BY BOATERS FOR BOATERS January/February 2010
TOP 10 STEWARDSHIP ISSUES OF 2010
Riverboarding Thunder Creek (WA) Hucking off the Edge of the World Where the Snow and Rivers Meet: A Mt. Washington Adventure Racing Daylight Mexico’s Rivers Explored Little Lauren Burress on BIG Creek
A VOLUNTEER PUBLICATION PROMOTING RIVER CONSERVATION, ACCESS AND SAFETY American Whitewater Journal January/February 2010 - Volume #50 - Issue #1
Columns
3 The Journey Ahead by Mark Singleton
4 President’s Message by Don Kinser 5 News & Notes
Stewardship Updates
6 California Renewable Energy Plan: Is New BC Hydro the Answer by Mick Grochol
Top Stewardship Issues 2010
8 Protecting National River Management Policies on the Chattanooga (NC/SC/GA) by Kevin Colburn
8 Guiding Hydropower Develpment and Management of Government Dams on the West River (VT) by Kevin Colburn
9 Providing a Voice for Paddlers in National Policy by Kevin Colburn
10 Pushing for Wild and Scenic Designation on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie (WA) by Thomas O’Keefe
10 Dam Removal on the White Salmon River (WA) by Thomas O’Keefe
11 Bringing Natural Flows Back to the McCloud River (CA) by Dave Steindorf
13 Protecting the Free-Flowing Yampa River from Powerful Industries (CO) by Nathan Fey
14 Protecting Recreational Flows on the Upper Colorado River (CO) byNathan Fey
15 Restoring Dynamic Flows to the Dolores River by Nathan Fey
16 River Time: Saving the Mokelumne River (CA) by Theresa L. Simsiman
Creeking
18 Losloera by Tom Meinholz 24 Gangs of Nor-Cal: Showdown on a 35-footer by Raul Adamchak 28 Boards and Boats: A Classic New England Adventure by Darron Laughland
32 Searching for the Edge of the World by Jeff West
35 Little Paddler, Big Creek by Lauren Burress
36 Riverboard on Thunder Creek by Rochelle Parry
38 Racing Daylight by Eric Adsit
40 First Descent of Rio Chinipas - A To Be Class IV Mexican Classic by Rocky Contos
49 A Southern Creekin’ Road Trip by Mikel Carr
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Paddlers enjoying the Upper Colorado Publication Title: American Whitewater River, whose recreational flows are Issue Date: January/February 2010 threatened by the demands of Front Statement of Frequency: Published bimonthly Authorized Organization’s Name and Address: Range cities and farms American Whitewater P.O. Box 1540 Cullowhee, NC 28723 photo by Marin Fey River Stewardship: EDUCATION: AW shares information with the participation in public decision-making processes, general public and the paddling community regarding grassroots advocacy, coalition building, empowerment An Integrated Approach whitewater rivers, as well as river recreation, of volunteers, public outreach and education, and, conservation, access, and safety. This is accomplished when necessary, legal action. Our mission: “To conserve and restore America’s through our bi-monthly AW Journal, a monthly whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities RIVER ACCESS: To assure public access to whitewater e-news, americanwhitewater.org, paddling events, to enjoy them safely,” is actively pursued through our rivers pursuant to the guidelines published in its educational events, and through direct communication conservation, access, safety and education efforts under official Access Policy, AW arranges for river access with the press. the umbrella of River Stewardship. The only national through private lands by negotiation or purchase, organization representing the interest of all whitewater seeks to protect the right of public passage on all rivers Together, AW staff, members, volunteers, and affiliate paddlers, American Whitewater is the national voice and streams navigable by kayak or canoe, encourages clubs can achieve our goals of conserving, protecting for thousands of individual whitewater enthusiasts, as equitable and responsible management of whitewater and restoring America’s whitewater resources well as over 100 local paddling club affiliates. rivers on public lands, and works with government and enhancing opportunities to safely enjoy these agencies and other river users to achieve these goals. AW’s River Stewardship program adheres to the four wonderful rivers. tenets of our mission statement: SAFETY: AW promotes paddling safely, publishes reports on whitewater accidents, maintains a uniform AW was incorporated under Missouri nonprofit CONSERVATION: AW’s professional staff works national ranking system for whitewater rivers (the corporation laws in 1961 and maintains its principal closely with volunteers and partner organizations to International Scale of Whitewater Difficulty) and mailing address at PO Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC protect the ecological and scenic values of all whitewater publishes and disseminates the internationally- 28723; phone 1-866-BOAT-4-AW (1-866-262-8429). rivers. These goals are accomplished through direct recognized American Whitewater Safety Code. AW is tax exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service.
American Whitewater Journal Staff Board of Directors & Staff TOLL FREE NUMBER Editor Ambrose Tuscano Chris Bell 866-BOAT4AW P.O. Box 913, Soda Springs, California 95728 [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Asheville, NC Graphic Design/Production/Photo Editor Christie Dobson Rich Bowers Nathan Fey Contributing Writers Eric Nies Don Kinser, Ambrose Tuscano, Mark Singleton, [email protected] [email protected] Colorado Stewardship Director Thomas O’Keefe, Mich Grochol, Kevin Colburn, Dave Steindorf, Bellingham, WA New Paltz, NY Longmont, CO Nathan Fey, Theresa Simsiman, Tom Meinholz, Raul Adamchak, [email protected] Darron Laughland, Jeff West, Lauren Burress, Rochelle Parry, Eric Adsit, Rocky Contos, Mikel Carr Dave Cernicek Aaron Pruzan [email protected] [email protected] Carla Miner Photo Contributors Jackson, WY Membership Manager Dave Steindorf, Marin Fey, Tom Meinholz, Rocky Contos, Jackson Hole, WY Frank Walden, Darron Laughland, Dick Pollack, Dave Cohen, West Valley City, UT Matt Wallace, Russell Hobby, Kathleen Burress, Eric Michelson, Adam Cramer Norwood Scott [email protected] Eric Adsit, Daniel Anderson, Mikel Carr [email protected] [email protected] Events / Advertising Coordinator Jeff Paine Bethesda, MD San Francisco, CA Jeff Paine P.O. Box 1540, Cullowhee, NC 28723 Outreach Director phone 860-331-8323 Leland Davis Asheville, NC e-mail: [email protected] Charlie Walbridge leland@ [email protected] [email protected] Safety Editor Charlie Walbridge brushmountainpublishing. Bruceton Mills, WV Route 1, Box 329F, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525 com Thomas O’Keefe e-mail: [email protected] Swannanoa, NC BOARD OFFICERS Pacific NW Stewardship Director Stewarship Reports Editor Seattle, WA President: Don Kinser Kevin Colburn, [email protected] Jennie Goldberg [email protected] Vice President: Norwood Scott [email protected] American Whitewater Magazine Task Force Secretary: Jennie Goldberg Jeff Espy, Dunbar Hardy, Dale-Marie Herring, John Mason, Seattle, WA Mark Singleton Treasurer: Chris Bell Tanya Shuman, Ambrose Tuscano Executive Director At Large: Dave Cernicek Missing Copies and Address Changes Kristine Jackson Cullowhee, NC [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] AW STAff American Whitewater is printed by The Printing House in Quincy Florida Rock Island, TN All rights reserved. Laura Blalock Dave Steindorf Don Kinser Finance Manager California Stewardship Director EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER [email protected] Cullowhee, NC Chico, CA The opinions expressed in the features and Marietta, GA [email protected] [email protected] editorials of American Whitewater are those of the individual authors. They do not necessarily Evie Locke Kevin Colburn represent those of the Directors of American Whitewater or the editors of this publication. [email protected] National Stewardship Director On occasion, American Whitewater publishes Charlemont, MA Missoula, MT official organizational policy statements drafted [email protected] and approved by the Board of Directors. These policy statements will be clearly identified.
2 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 Pinch me, is it really 2010? Hydropower Reform Coalition Ultimately, the entire Chattooga Wild and Scenic River should protect and enhance American Whitewater has been a steering the values, including paddling, that caused As I write this, I’m just back from a late-fall committee member of the Hydropower it to be included in the National Wild and paddle in western North Carolina where Reform Coalition for many years. Through Scenic River System. This is one of the I live. The last of the leaves are coming Hydropower Reform Coalition efforts stones we continue roll uphill as we enter down and it’s hard to think of winter. By we are able to shape the procedural and the New Year, and the staff and committed the time you read this, the calendar will political arena where dam relicensing and volunteers of American Whitewater will have changed and the snow here will be management occurs. work with renewed vigor to make sure on the ground knee deep. I’m not ready that what happened under Forest Service to pull out the skis yet; there is still more As good as last year was and as much management in South Carolina does not paddling to be done before the snow flies. momentum as we are carrying into become a national standard. the New Year, we still face some stiff Last year, 2009, was a whirlwind! More challenges. For instance, you would think new Wild and Scenic River miles than you that once a river is designated Wild and Happy New Year, could shake a stick at were added to the Scenic that paddling on it would be a federal system for permanent protection given, especially if Congress specifically (most of us will be very lucky if we paddle designated paddling recreation as a cause all those new miles in a life-time). Critical for the river to be included in the National dam removals across the country and new Wild and Scenic River System—BUT Executive Director, American Whitewater settlements signed for improved flows NO, not on the Chattooga! That’s not on some outstanding whitewater rivers how they do things in South Carolina also took place. For the coming year, the (“you boys aren’t from ‘round here, are American Whitewater stewardship team is you?”). For 30 years, paddling has been looking deep into their crystal balls and, banned by the US Forest Service on the in this issue of the American Whitewater Chattooga Headwaters. Journal, the outcome of that reflection is the Top Ten River Issues list on page 8. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires Our Top Ten River Issues of 2010 takes that administering agencies “protect and into consideration a broad geographic enhance” the “values” unique to that river. cross section of the country and identifies In a classic bait and switch, the Forest some of the pressures that face our Service and other agencies focus on nation’s rivers. stocking the Chattooga Headwaters with catchable-size non-native trout in direct Beyond the Top Ten list, it’s also important contrast to their Chattooga Wild and to acknowledge two highly effective Scenic River proposal. coalitions American Whitewater is actively engaged with for national policy work. These coalitions provide an opportunity to work smarter with other like-minded partners at addressing nagging national public policy issues.
Outdoor Alliance
The Outdoor Alliance is a coalition of conservation oriented human-powered outdoor recreation groups. The Outdoor Alliance works to balance stewardship and recreation in national policy decisions. Through this partnership our voice in DC is vastly more powerful. www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 3 January/February 2010 Snow is flying in much of the country to all of you who belong to and support I hope you all had a great holiday season and thoughts of warm water and sunny our organization. and that Santa brought you some great weather seem distant for many of you. This whitewater toys for Christmas. Best wishes is always a good time to reflect back on the Your efforts as local river stewards and for 2010! year just passed. advocates are greatly enhanced by AW’s outstanding paid staff, led by Mark AW enjoyed a great deal of stewardship Singleton, AW’s Executive Director. Mark’s success in 2009 and we have fared much leadership has been a great blessing to our better financially than many of our organization and he is joined by a talented See You on the River, nonprofit advocacy organization peers. group of hard working river advocates that AW’s successes result primarily from two includes Laura Blalock, Kevin Colburn, things: passionately committed volunteers Nathan Fey, Carla Miner, Tom O’Keefe, like you, who take ownership of local river Jeff Paine, and Dave Steindorf. These folks issues, and an awesome, talented staff. are all working hard on your behalf and I want to thank each of them personally for You are the reason AW succeeds. Your a job well done. time, sweat and treasure are why AW achieves great things as we pursue our With your continued support and passion mission to conserve and restore America’s for rivers we all love, you can expect more whitewater resources and enhance your great things from AW this year and into opportunities to enjoy them safely. Thanks the future.
4 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 27th Annual National Paddling Film Festival
Slated for February, 26-27th, 2010, with to your support for the 2010 NPFF. Guest Host Tyler Bradt! The 2009 NPFF winners are as follows: The National Paddling Film Festival was Amateur General - MUWC3: Team Go born in a barn in October, 1982 at the Medium, Heath Damron Kentucky Horse Park in central Kentucky. That first festival was a rowdy party with Amateur Documentary - Exploring the over 150 people in attendance and 23 Boat Midget Phenomenon, film, slide, and video presentations. The Thomas Gerencer 8 and 16 mm films were shown on two homemade screens and mattresses were Accomplished General - The Endangered used as sound barriers for the theaters. Creeks Expedition, Mikkel St. Jean-Duncan Much has changed since the inception of Accomplished Documentary – Symbiosis, that Festival; however, the camaraderie Carl Jacks remains the same, as does the excitement of viewing new films for the first time. Professional General - Eastern Horizons, Bryan Smith The 2010 festival will remain at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Professional Documentary - A River’s Last KY. With over 5,000 square feet available Breath, Trip Jennings to us inside, and a full wraparound covered porch, there’s more than ample Professional Instructional - Steep Creek room. There is also sufficient parking for Skills, Whitewater Instruction Festival attendees. In addition, tours of the distillery grounds are available as well as Paddlers’ Choice - MUWC3: Team Go bourbon tastings. Festivities include, but Medium, Heath Damron are not limited to, films, a silent auction, a chili cook-off, a still image contest, and We are excited to announce that the paddling opportunities. winner for 2009 Best of Show is Eastern Horizons by Bryan Smith and the Still Last year’s festival was a huge success! Image winner is Beth Koller with her image We had over eight hours of the latest in “Koller-Diver.” whitewater films and well over 300 folks in attendance both nights. Film and image The National Paddling Film Festival entries for the 2009 NPFF were some of (NPFF), along with American Whitewater, the best we’ve seen to date. Every year the has raised thousands of dollars for river competition goes up a notch! Generous conservation efforts. The NPFF is an all- sponsors donated lots of great gear for volunteer organization; all money raised our silent auction, including a boat from goes to organizations such as AW, the Wakawai. We also gave away a Wavesport Green River Access Fund, West Virginia boat as part of an AW membership Rivers Coalition, and many more. drive. The most important success, however, was the contribution to river Now we challenge you to get out there and conservation. We were able to donate take pictures and video and then be sure to money to AW, Friends of the Cheat, enter them in the 2010 NPFF and help us WV Rivers Coalitions, and Friends of raise more funds for river conservation! See Elkhorn Acres. We would like to take this you all in February! opportunity to thank all of the entrants, the sponsors, and those who attended and Please visit our web-site at: www.npff.org. supported the 2009 NPFF. We look forward www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 5 January/February 2010 California Renewable BC’s rivers into new sources of Hydropower, environmentally friendly ones. We take they can do it under standards that are far issue with the apparent sidestepping of Energy Plan: Is New BC lower than those in California. Currently, current California regulations put in place Hydro the answer? California’s requirements for counting to prevent further environmental impact Hydropower as “renewable” require that by hydropower installations. Also, it seems By Mick Grochol there is no “net diversion” of water from that looking to BC to supply California’s the river, that there is no change in the power needs with new Hydro plants isn’t On the 15th of September 2009, Governor volume or timing of stream flow, and that going to get us any closer to the stated goals, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an there would be no impact on instream and doing so would have a major impact executive order regarding the acceleration beneficial uses (the water must not be on BC’s beautiful creeks and rivers. of California’s renewable energy goals. changed chemically or physically). What While this sounds good, digging a bit all of this means is that it would be far deeper into the issue uncovers some easier to install new Hydropower projects concerns, not the least of which is the in Canada, because the restrictions would complete preempting of the legislative not be the same. There are also size criteria, process. There is also the concern regarding but as many paddlers know, even the a possible plan to import hydroelectric smallest projects can have huge impacts power from British Columbia. on the rivers and creeks they draw from. British Colombia has some breathtaking The Governor’s wish is to have utilities stretches of river, and to dam them up to companies expand their Renewable produce a small amount of “run-of-the- Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 20% by river” hydropower would be a shame. December 31, 2010, and 33% by 2020. What is worse is that there is no guarantee What this means is that a company must that these small hydropower products be generating 33% of their electricity sales would provide the kind of energy that from renewable sources. These sources California requires during peak hours that include Wind, Solar and New Hydropower is needed to replace carbon based sources Sources that wouldn’t generate over 30MW. of energy. Since these would be “run-of- The idea is to push utilities to develop the-river,” the power is generated mostly by new sources of renewable energy, since snowmelt, with no way to firm up energy they would not be able to count existing and transmit it during peak hours. Power Hydropower sources in their portfolio. firming is the practice of taking sources of This all sounds fantastic, but there is energy that are intermittent, mainly wind troubling language in the Executive order. and solar, making sure there is stored The 5th part of the order is as follows: energy available during peak demand. For example, think of a cloudy day with The ARB (Air Resources Board) shall no wind, power would have to come from establish the highest priority for those another source, or storage. resources that provide the greatest environmental benefits with the least This flies in the face of some utilities’ claim environmental costs and impacts on that BC Hydropower could be used to “firm public health that can be developed most up” Solar and Wind generated sources, quickly and that support reliable, efficient, and also doesn’t address the problem that cost-effective electricity system operations the ARB is commissioned to solve: finding including resources and facilities located ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the Western Interconnection. in California.
What this does is effectively open the American Whitewater supports the gate for importing power from BC Hydro overall goal of replacing our current sources. If utilities are allowed to develop energy sources with renewable and
6 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 7 January/February 2010 It is always a good idea to keep Protecting National River and plenty of work ahead. Thankfully we have an amazing team of volunteer a keen eye on what awaits you Management Policies on attorneys, expert witnesses, and regional downstream. When better than the the Chattooga (NC/SC/GA) coordinators. With this crew we are New Year to look ahead and think optimistic that we will be able to prevent the Forest Service from setting a terrible big? Make a list of rivers you want By Kevin Colburn precedent that could impact recreation to paddle, tricks you want to learn, and rivers across the country. or old paddling friends you want We all love the US Forest Service. Chances are, many of your most memorable to cross paths with. Here at AW we experiences in your boat, camping out, took a look at some of the biggest climbing, hiking, and even running a dusty Guiding Hydropower and best projects headed our way shuttle were on Forest Service land. The Development and in 2010. These Top 10 Stewardship agency manages most of the whitewater gems in the US and generally does a fine Management of Issues are projects that we expect to job of it. They protect some of the best be an important part of our work rivers with Wilderness or Wild and Scenic Government Dams on the plans in 2010 and were selected to status, and strive to support and promote West River (VT) responsible recreational enjoyment of the highlight both the wide range of rivers they manage. However, one small By Kevin Colburn projects we are working on and the branch of this huge agency might just high stakes and potential rewards change all that. The West River is currently at the of our Stewardship work for all intersection of two important debates in Thirty-three years ago the Sumter National river management. of us. These are only 10 out of at Forest banned boating on a 21-mile least 50 large-scale active projects, section of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga Flows on the West River are controlled and many smaller ones, that we River. AW successfully challenged this by Ball Mountain Dam which is operated are working on. None of this work decision in 2004, and in 2005 the Chief of by the Army Corps of Engineers. In the agency told Sumter to reconsider their recent years the agency has cut back on would be possible without the illegal boating ban. In the fall of 2009 they the number of recreational releases in an support of our amazing volunteers, did just that, and reached essentially the attempt to reduce impacts that their dam members, and other donors. What same conclusion. Specifically they decided may have on Atlantic Salmon. Paddlers to ban paddling again with the exception makes AW a unique and effective are concerned that releases are being of allowing a token 6 high-water winter needlessly reduced since there is no fish organization is the enthusiasm and days of paddling to occur on one small passage at the dam and no evidence that support of the paddling community. section of the river. Counter to many laws the salmon smolt stocked upstream of the Thanks for your help. The AW staff and their own policies, they claim that dam each year survive or migrate. Paddlers allowing paddling – even when flows are are seeking rational river management that looks forward to accomplishing too high for fishing – will impact anglers is consistent with salmon recovery efforts. great things with you so badly that paddling must be totally As if on cue, the Nature Conservancy in 2010! eliminated. They simply value fishing for is stepping up to provide advice to the stocked trout higher than paddling, and Army Corps on the management of rivers have failed to make a rational, fair, or throughout the Connecticut River basin. protective decision. AW staff and partners will be working closely with the Nature Conservancy and In October of 2009 we worked with the Army Corps in 2010 to develop flows the American Canoe Association and a that work for fish and paddlers. We hope number of our affiliate clubs to challenge that this work will serve as a model for how the Sumter National Forest. We filed to manage government dams throughout comprehensive charges against the Forest New England. Service in federal court, and in a parallel process, appealed the decision within the At the same time a private company is agency. Our first court hearing went really pursuing the rights to install a hydropower well, and our next hearing is scheduled generation facility at Ball Mountain for early in 2010. Throughout 2010 we Dam. This is just one of several recent will likely have many major milestones similar attempts, including applications 8 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 AW’s Thomas O’Keefe testifying before Congress on on the Russell Fork and Tygart. Adding policy issues, something the paddling the benefits of conserving the Middle Fork of the hydropower generation to existing dams community has a long history of doing. Snoqualmie River and surrounding lands that are not candidates for removal can We play an invaluable and powerful role offer relatively low impact hydropower, in setting national policy because as a Photo courtesy Congressman Reichert’s office and AW will be participating in these community we know virtually every river licensing efforts to assure that river flows in the nation first-hand. Our stories are and access are protected and enhanced. first-hand and honest, revealing the real dynamic flows below dams. Our work with The Gauley is a good example of how this value or protecting wild rivers. In 2010 our this group ensures that AW staff are kept kind of combination can work. There, national efforts will continue through three up to date on river management principles private hydropower generation was groups: the River Management Society, and practices, while also allowing us to get recently installed in a government dam, the Hydropower Reform Coalition, and to know the agency staff managing most of with a relatively minor environmental and Outdoor Alliance. the rivers in the country. recreational impact. On the West River, where the current release gates do a poor The River Management Society is the AW is a steering committee member of job of mimicking natural flows and passing professional society for everyone involved the Hydropower Reform Coalition and fish, some new technology could be good in river management, which are by and our own Dave Steindorf is the Chair of the for the river and its enthusiasts. large federal agency personnel. American California Hydropower Reform Coalition. Whitewater staff regularly attend RMS In close partnership with other non-profit Providing a Voice for meetings, give presentations, participate organizations working on dammed rivers, in debates, and write for the RMS including American Rivers and Trout Paddlers in National Policy newsletter. In the spring of 2010 our Unlimited, we strive to ensure that fair and own Thomas O’Keefe will be hosting a environmentally responsible regulations By Kevin Colburn dam removal symposium in and around govern hydropower dams. This work Portland, Oregon as part of the RMS dovetails perfectly with our on-the-ground To win protections for rivers we both play biannual conference. AW Stewardship efforts to restore flows and public access to the game and change the rules towards team members Dave Steindorf and Kevin rivers across the country. fairness. The latter half of this strategy Colburn plan to present on the ecological demands that we work on national and recreational values of restoring Rounding out our national policy work is www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 9 January/February 2010 the Outdoor Alliance. This upstart coalition Kayak Club several decades ago. The river Dam Removal on the White of human powered outdoor recreation and its tributaries include 40 miles that are groups has made a big change in the way suitable for paddlers over a wide range of Salmon River (WA) Washington DC views conservation work. skill levels including sections appropriate Together we work to protect the remaining for beginners and other sections that By Thomas O’Keefe Forest Service roadless areas, ensure the challenge the nation’s top expert paddlers. Clean Water Act is fully implemented, stem In November 2009, American Whitewater’s The White Salmon River has been blocked the effects of climate change, and ensure Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director, by Condit Dam for nearly a century. The that federal agencies have the information Thomas O’Keefe, was invited to testify dam prevents salmon from accessing and resources available to do a good job before Congress on the legislation to some of the highest quality habitat along managing and protecting our nation’s protect this river, its major tributary the this section of the Columbia River. Condit rivers. For these reasons and more, the Pratt, and surrounding low elevation forest Dam produces very little power relative to Outdoor Alliance has become a great asset along the river. During 2010 we anticipate the ongoing environmental impacts and it for all paddlers. Through the coalition additional work on this legislation and will is also anticipated that a restored river will we create positive changes across many continue to pursue opportunities that may provided enhanced boating opportunities. landscapes in the country. We expect that come available to extend the protections In late 2009 we worked on pushing for the 2010 will hold more opportunities than for this river further downstream in this or final state reviews that are required for any year in the history of the coalition future legislation. Congressman Reichert dam removal. During 2010 there will be to make real advances in environmental and Senator Murray have demonstrated additional review that will take place at the legislation that benefits all of us who seek tremendous leadership and we are excited federal level and we are hopeful that this adventures outdoors. by the renewed interest in rivers that were process will proceed smoothly so that we originally recommended by the Forest can remove the dam in the fall of 2010. Pushing for Wild and Service to Congress for designation back in 1990. Dam removals are among some of our most Scenic Designation on the exciting projects, as they offer the potential Our efforts are not limited to the Middle to bring rivers back to life—sections of Middle Fork Snoqualmie Fork Snoqualmie and we are actively whitewater that many of us have never seen. (WA) engaged in efforts to protect Illabot Creek, In addition, they restore overall ecosystem a tributary of the Skagit in Washington, and health and provide significant benefits for By Thomas O’Keefe the Molalla and Rogue Rivers in Oregon. native fish populations. Our efforts have We are also excited to be a part of efforts led to the successful removal of a number Wild and Scenic river designation is one of to explore opportunities in Montana and of dams and we have some more lined up, the most powerful tools we have to protect Washington where there are a number of including outdated dams on the Elwha rivers and prevent damaging development rivers identified by the Forest Service for River in Washington and Rogue River of new dams or other water project. As we Wild and Scenic designation, and in Idaho, in Oregon. The Elwha River restoration observe increased interest in hydropower where we have long advocated for the project will include the removal of two large development, including the incredible completion of the Salmon Wild and Scenic dams on a river that once provided habitat goal voiced by the National Hydropower River. We will also continue our work to for thriving populations of all five species of Association of doubling hydropower make sure rivers that are eligible for Wild Pacific Salmon. This project was identified capacity in this country, the protection and Scenic designation are identified and as a significant opportunity through the of our best and most outstanding rivers protected during agency planning efforts. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act becomes all the more important. The recent proposal to dam and divert the and American Whitewater was among the Madison River below Quake Lake drives organizations identifying this project as a Currently American Whitewater is involved home the need for advocacy efforts from key opportunity. The Gold Ray Dam on in a number of Wild and Scenic River bills the whitewater boating community. the Rogue River has also been identified as and we are building off the success of 86 a key project under this legislation. new Wild and Scenic Rivers that were With designation also comes included the Omnibus Public lands bill responsibilities for management and American Whitewater will continue passed in spring 2009. Among the most American Whitewater will continue our to serve as a voice for the recreational outstanding of the rivers we are working leadership role in the River Management benefits of a free flowing Snake River and on is the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie Society and our relationships with river continue or work on removal of Dillsboro River, a treasured resource for the Western managers around the country. Dam where we hope to see some success Washington’s paddling community since in 2010. the early forays into the watershed by Wolf Bauer and members of the Washington
10 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 Bringing Natural Flows Back to the McCloud River (CA)
By Dave Steindorf
Last year, in our Top Ten River Issues, we highlighted the fact that AW was working to see more natural flow releases below dams that preserve the important dynamic nature of rivers. Since that time we have collaborated with river scientists at UC Davis to develop a paper on this topic that is now being published. The paper highlights the importance of the snowmelt hydrograph in western rivers. This hydrologic pattern of high flows that occur in the spring and then gradually recede into the summer is something that is very familiar to boaters in the West. It is also very familiar to fish, frogs, and virtually every kind of aquatic creature that evolved in these systems. Unfortunately, dams have disrupted this predictable pattern and replaced it with spring flows that are often more erratic than any other time of the year.
While helping research efforts and getting things published is nice, the goal is to actually make a difference in the flow regimes of dam-controlled western rivers. In 2009 we made great strides towards this goal with the implementation of a snowmelt schedule on the Cresta reach of the Feather River (CA). In this new flow schedule, flows are elevated in May to coincide with the spring snowmelt, 800 cfs at the peak, and then gradually tapering off to base flows in July in a normal year. This is the first flow schedule of its kind on a FERC project in California.
In 2009 we also began negotiations for a flow schedule on the McCloud River in Northern California. This amazing river lies in the shadow of Mt Shasta and is fed by springs that lay below this snow-capped volcano. However, seven miles below the spring, the Mc Cloud Dam diverts 80% of the flows down to powerhouses on the The first five miles below the Dam contains Pit River. Currently, PG&E is required to many Class IV+ rapids release a flat line flow of 210 cfs below the dam. Since this flow requirement says Photo by Dave Steindorf www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 11 January/February 2010 Double Drop Rapid on the McCloud River, California
Photos by Dave Steindorf
nothing about how spill flows should be and the down ramp. The other significant Somewhat to our surprise some anglers managed, flows during spills are typically benefit is having a smaller pulse in drier vehemently opposed this flow proposal. very erratic, often going from the 210 cfs years to help maintain the river channel What has been most astounding is that minimum flows up to several thousand and provide the important ecological it has been the same angling groups that cfs and back down in a very short time functions that having a spring pulse will have been most vocal in their opposition period. Equally problematic are years provide in years when the dam typically to whitewater pulse flow that also oppose when no spills occur and flows can be flat does not spill. restoring more natural flow patterns to the lined for years on end. With sustained low McCloud. Their position seems to be that flows, vegetation begins to encroach into In October of 2009, the resource agencies they wish the McCloud to be at a wadable the channel, something that we have seen proposed a flow schedule for the McCloud fishing flow every day of the year. They are in rivers across the country. based upon these principles. They also in favor of bringing flows down from also stated that this proposal met their spill events as fast as possible, so as to get The solution, as previously stated, is to regulatory requirement of balancing back to fishing flows. This is in spite of create higher flows in the spring that recreational needs because their proposal the fact that many anglers have expressed gradually recede. Higher spring flows would provide whitewater recreation concern of the effects of rapid down will have several benefits. First, higher during these spring pulse events. Even ramping (stranding of fish, bugs, etc) flows will help to buffer spill flows that though this only returned a small faction from the current operation of the dams. occur in the spring. Rather than having of the boatable days that would have Apparently this small but vocal group of spill flows laid over a 210 cfs base flow, occurred without the dam, AW agreed anglers desire to have as many days to the graph below shows how higher base with their rationale and supported their wade in the river as possible, no matter flow essentially preempt spill flows so that proposal as a reasonable balance. the cost to the resource, and they want this changes are less dramatic both on the up river all to themselves. AW believes that 12 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 the McCloud is a fabulous resource that should be shared by all.
Over the next year we will finalize the flow schedule for the McCloud. Our goal is to support the agencies that have worked hard to insure that the fabulous McCloud River is there for all of us to use in the future. This river is a true gem that needs AW and our members’ support.
Protecting the Free- Flowing Yampa River from Powerful Industries (CO) Water proposes to take water from the would be stored in a massive reservoir for Yampa and pipe it 225 miles up and over future oil shale mining, a controversial By Nathan Fey the Continental Divide to the eastern side and still unproven technology. Shell says it of the Rockies, where most Coloradoans wants to inject the water into the ground We all love the wildness of free-flowing live. Impacts to recreational opportunities to unlock oil from shale, where reserves rivers, powerful and dynamic systems on one of the region’s most outstanding are reported to be three-times greater than that remind us how iconic and rare these multiday trips would be substantial as peak Saudi Arabia’s. untouched areas are. They’re threatened spring flows enjoyed by boaters would be too, because these untouched river stored and diverted, permanently. Today, a lot of people have questions about corridors also hide resources that are how much water this will take, and whether in high demand. In Colorado, the free- Second, the powerful Shell Oil Company, there will be any left for everyone else, so flowing Yampa River is in the middle of a whose interests lie deep below the Yampa agriculture, extractive energy companies three-way battle between interests in large River. The company has filed for the rights and cities are all battling for a piece of the reserves of oil and gas, clean water for to divert a substantial amount of water Yampa, where the first nationwide river cities, and conservation advocates. from the Yampa just a few miles upstream conservation campaign started in the from Dinosaur National Monument. It 1950s. Then, David Brower and the Sierra Unlike most western rivers, which have Club successfully stopped a huge reservoir been dammed, diverted or otherwise had that would have dammed up the Yampa their water put to “beneficial” use, the River and drowned the canyons of Echo Yampa runs wild. While there is much Park and Dinosaur National Monument. interest in preserving the Yampa River This year, paddlers are mobilizing for a for its globally rare wildlife habitats, similar fight saying, “Leave this one; let endangered fish and world-class river our grandchildren see what a wild river recreation, powerful industries are looking looks like.” to put Yampa River water to other uses.
First, the powerful interests in damming and delivering the Yampa River to Denver and Colorado’s Front Range: Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, the agency that secures water supplies for Colorado’s booming Front Range cities, north of Denver, is concerned that future demand for water along the front range promises to be greater than their current supplies. In order to meet demand, the Yampa River has been identified as a site Yampa River Canyon, Colorado for a 300,000-acre foot reservoir above Dinosaur National Monument. Northern Photos Kent Vertrees www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 13 January/February 2010 Protecting Recreational The Upper Colorado River is the largest water supply in the future? Flows on the Upper source of supplemental water supplies for Colorado River (CO) Denver and Colorado’s East Slope, where Flows on the Upper Colorado River are numerous reservoirs and pumps lift water impacted by a series of projects that up and over the Continental Divide. Water take water out of the river above Gore By Nathan Fey providers like Denver Water and Northern Canyon and Glenwood Springs. In recent Colorado Water Conservancy District years water managers and conservation The Upper Colorado River is the manage these reservoirs to provide water interests have started to work to preserve centerpiece of the current debate over to Front Range cities and farms. Looking critical environmental flow needs as how we will manage our western rivers forward 30 years, water providers are more water is taken out of western rivers, in the future. Will we dam and divert our looking to grab even more water out of the like the Colorado. Today, while water rivers and creeks as we have for 150 years, Upper Colorado to meet future demand. managers are coordinating releases in or will we work to find ways to protect How do we balance today’s environmental an attempt to reduce impacts that their what little water remains for fish, wildlife, and recreational water needs with reliable reservoirs may have on endangered fish, and recreation?
Upper Colorado
Photo by Marin Fey
14 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 Upper Colorado
Photo by Marin Fey
Restoring Dynamic Flows to the Dolores River (CO/UT)
By Nathan Fey
The Dolores River carves one of America’s premier wild river canyons through southwestern Colorado. For 170 miles, from McPhee Reservoir to Utah, and paddlers are concerned that what little happen only after water providers take all the confluence with the Colorado River, water remains in the river will not provide they can out of the river. As an alternative the Dolores traverses some of the most enough flow for commercial and private to federal flow protection for the Upper remarkable landscapes in the desert paddling opportunities. This year it will be Colorado, AW is developing a cooperative southwest. One outstanding value of the critical to weigh in on how our rivers and river management plan with water Dolores River is its ability to accommodate paddling opportunities are impacted by providers, State and Federal agencies and long, wilderness-quality river trips, Windy Gap Reservoir and Denver’s Moffat our conservation partners that balances putting the Dolores River second only to Tunnel System. the needs of communities with those of the Grand Canyon. fish, wildlife and paddlers. The Alternative At the same time, the US Bureau of Land Management Plan being proposed to the The US Bureau of Land Management Management is evaluating hundreds of BLM will create a forum for stakeholders and the US Forest Service, which jointly rivers in Colorado, for Wilderness and like AW to decide how flows in the manage the Dolores River corridor, are Wild and Scenic Rivers protection. The Colorado River are managed into the currently reviewing whether the Dolores Upper Colorado is just one of several future. For the first time in Colorado’s era River is suitable for protection under the examples, including the iconic Yampa, of water development, paddlers have a real Wilderness Act or the Wild and Scenic Green, and Dolores Rivers. While federal say in what the future of Upper Colorado Rivers Act. Wild and Scenic designation protection of these rivers could include River looks like. would provide permanent protection for flows needed for fish and paddlers, under the Dolores River corridor and the world- Colorado Water Law, these flows would class paddling opportunities it provides. However, state and federal water laws limit appropriation of waters for in-channel flows in an over-appropriated system like the Dolores, and fears of federal action that could limit the state’s ability to develop its energy and water resources make this issue hotly contested.
In response, local stakeholders are recommending alternatives to federal Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers management. These alternatives could include a comprehensive set of flow targets that will inform how releases are managed to achieve equal protection of the Dolores River. It is imperative that the best science and research methodologies inform the development of these recommendations.
This year, American Whitewater continues to explore opportunities to
Dolores River Canyon, Colorado www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 15 January/February 2010 manage McPhee Reservoir to improve wonders of river time. River time does American Whitewater has been actively downstream ecological conditions and not tick away in regular intervals. It can involved on the Mokelumne since 1992. recreational opportunities, while honoring rush by in the seconds it takes to drop In July of 2000, with the hard work agricultural and municipal water rights over a steep rocky rapid or it can slow to of then Conservation Director, John and supplies. Our staff and volunteers will introspective moments in the flat waters Gangemi, AW became a signatory to advance the science-based justifications of a beautiful canyon. And despite this the Mokelumne Relicensing Settlement for recreational releases, and work with irregularity, river time flows on like the Agreement for FERC Project 137. This water users, local governments and federal waters and the tribulations of California’s 30 year settlement agreement with Pacific agencies to manage reservoir spills to Mokelumne River. Gas & Electric (PG&E) came 18 years optimize ecological and recreational after their previous project license expired flow needs. The Mokelumne River tumbles out of the in 1972—an eternity in river time. But High Sierra providing pristine whitewater this historic agreement set conditions for all to enjoy. There is a plentitude of for PG&E’s operation of the Mokelumne whitewater to choose from like the multi- River hydropower project and has proven River Time: Saving the day Class V+ Fantasy Falls run featured in to be an ideal model of cooperation for Mokelumne River (CA) John Grace’s The 7 Rivers Expedition, or the subsequent relicensings across the nation. Class III-V Devil’s Nose run which world Through its implementation over the years, By Theresa L. Simsiman rafter Jon Yost recently called “as beautiful whitewater boaters have benefited from the as any he has rafted in California.” Then annual scheduled releases for the Devil’s Some twelve years back on my 30th there’s one of my annual favorites the Class Nose, Tiger Creek, Ponderosa, Electra and birthday my silver & gold designer watch III-IV Tiger Creek run. There is the lesser Middle Bar runs. And, as provided for came to a dead stop. Looking down at known, Class III Ponderosa run. And one in the agreement itself, the U.S. Bureau the stilled second hand, my superstitious of the best training rivers for beginners in of Land Management has obtained funds mind took it as an omen of impending the Sierra foothills located on the borders and the go ahead to build a new Electra doom and I vowed never to wear a watch of Amador and Calaveras County off of Run take-out facility downstream of again. Later that year, I replaced the Highway 49, the Class II Electra & Middle Highway 49. conventional clock that had once wrapped Bar runs, which also serves as the site heavily around my wrist with the beautiful for the ever-popular annual Moke Races. Perhaps one of the more interesting access rhythm of free flowing waters. I took up These slalom and downriver races hosted issues involved the Mokelumne’s Middle whitewater kayaking and like so many by the Loma Prieta Paddlers since 1978 Bar run. Since the 1950s East Bay Municipal before me, I immersed myself into the take place every September. Utility District (EBMUD) had Amador & Calaveras County enforce and prosecute a strict no trespassing policy for any of the boaters who chose to ignore their signs on the waters between the Highway 49 bridge and the downstream Middle Bar bridge. In those days it was somewhat enticing to challenge this policy and several kayakers would push the envelope on a regular basis only to be met by EBMUD staff at the take-out. Several subsequent efforts to negotiate access failed. Then in 1999 Foothill Conservancy took the trespass issue to the California Attorney General’s office, which in turn gave the matter to the State Lands Commission. Then in early December, the commission voted to pursue greater Mokelumne River access directing Deputy Attorney General, Lisa Trankley, to contact EBMUD on their behalf.
Take-out in Style
Photo courtesy of Foothill Conservancy
16 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 The very next day on a cold winter like Foothill Conservancy, Friends of the McIntosh proposed a resolution to work afternoon, paddlers Andy McKinsey, Eric River, California Sportfishing Protection with foothill interests to secure National Arons, Michael “Rand” Nash & Elise Alliance, and the Sierra Club. Wild and Scenic River designation—it Goldman-Wilson climbed up a steep passed 6 to 0. What does this resolution muddied embankment and maneuvered But no organization can stop time, mean exactly? Only river time will tell. their boats through a barb wired fence. and inevitably more efforts to corral In the meantime, American Whitewater They were greeted and reluctantly cited by Mokelumne water resources will move and our partner organizations will a county sheriff at the urging of a waiting forward. For instance, EBMUD’s board of continue the search for the Mokelumne’s EBMUD ranger. Lawyers Greg Klein and directors recently voted 4 to 2 to approve political champion. Brad Sullivan handled the ensuing legal their Water Supply Management Program paperwork pro bono. And Deputy AG 2040. At the center of this controversial If you would like to show your support Trankley again intervened and spoke to program are plans, once again, to enlarge for National Wild and Scenic designation Amador County DA, Todd Riebe, who Pardee Reservoir, which would inundate of the Mokelumne River please go to the dropped the charges, saying that he would the Middle Bar take-out facility, flood Foothill Conservancy webpage - http:// not prosecute trespassing citations for the entire Class II Middle Bar Run and www.foothillconservancy.org/ people moving directly between the river flood out portions of the Electra run, and Middle Bar Road. By the next year, including the new BLM take-out facilities following continued discussion with the set to break ground this spring. To Theresa L. Simsiman is a Private Boater State Lands Commission and pressure assuage the numerous vocal opponents, Signatory to the Upper American River from various stakeholders, including EBMUD emphasizes that if and when Project Relicensing Agreement and the County of Calaveras and Amador they choose to enlarge Pardee Reservoir, the American Whitewater Rep to the County’s five cities, the EBMUD board it wouldn’t happen for at least another 14 Mokelumne River Ecological Resources passed a resolution supporting access to years—a regular interval of time for them Committee. Middle Bar Bridge. On May 16, 2003, and a blink of an eye for those of us on after a significant investment of private river time. and public funding from the California Department of Boating and Waterways AW and many conservation groups believe the EBMUD Middle Bar Take-out was the only option now, to permanently fend officially unveiled to the public. off all the agencies fighting for the scraps of water left in the last free flowing sections Like most California rivers, the Mokelumne of the Mokelumne, would be designation River has also seen its share of water grabs, as a National Wild and Scenic River. In including scrambles for the precious the early 1990s, the U.S. Forest Service resource in the foothills of the Sierra. found the 17-mile Devil’s Nose reach Most occurred in the nation’s major dam- eligible for designation. Then in a Record building era, from 1900 to 1960. Then in of Decision dated February 2008, the 1996 and 1998 a coalition of water agencies BLM concluded that the North and Main from nearby San Joaquin County made Forks of the Mokelumne River from Tiger bids for both a high & low Middle Bar Creek Dam to 100 feet below the Highway dam, behind the existing 350-foot Pardee 49 bridge were eligible for inclusion Dam. And EBMUD, which provides into the National Wild and Scenic River water to the eastern portion of the San System. Combined with the 26-plus-mile Francisco Bay Area, tried for a Middle Bar Fantasy Falls run through the Mokelumne dam in the early 80s and then abandoned Wilderness, designating these miles of the the idea. It later transformed into plans to Mokelumne a National Wild and Scenic enlarge the downstream Pardee Reservoir River would protect more than 60 miles of in the 1993 version of their Water Supply beautiful whitewater. Adding the last mile Management Program 2020. Also looking of the river below Highway 49 to Pardee for their piece of the pie, Amador County Reservoir’s high pool would ensure full tried to flood nine miles of the Devil’s protection of the upper Mokelumne. Nose reach in the 1990s. Over the years, these ill-conceived ideas that would wipe The conundrum here is how to get members out more free flowing sections of the river of Congress to make this recommendation have been prevented with ever-vigilant and subsequently vote for its addition. help from AW’s partner organizations Ironically, advocates were given a small gift from EBMUD board members when Lesa www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 17 January/February 2010 Tom Diegel in a pillarless Freefall LT on the first Losloera descent of the upper Rio Chinipas Photo by Tom Meinholz by Tom Meinholz
How did I end up in this situation again? I and protection from the obligatory that the river cuts right through. It looks am sitting in an eddy looking downstream afternoon rains. It even came complete like it would have been much easier for at an obviously difficult section of the Rio with the highly sought after flat sandy area the river to go around. I am no geologist Los Loera in the Copper Canyon. It appears and dripping spring of fresh water. The (and no hallucinogens were involved) but there will be much more portaging ahead. first day started with mostly Class I-II and there are some interesting canyon-forming ended with III-IV in a canyon with 1000 processes occurring here. The task at hand The first day of our first descent was quite cfs of juice, a nice flow. was more serious and after a few moments uneventful, save for a Class V road to the of trying to figure out complex geology I put-in and Rocky Contos, my paddling The put-in was upstream only about was stunned back into the mission by the partner on this expedition, loosing his six miles in a beautiful pastoral setting beginnings of the afternoon rain. camera to the river a mile into the run. We complete with cowboys or vaqueros took a fairly relaxed approach to the run (usually call them caballeros). In this area For those of you who have done multiday since it was only 42 miles and we had four of the Copper canyon it seems like the trips on hard rivers, especially in damp days, five if necessary. The gradient had rivers decided in an instant where they environs, you can imagine the urgency of less than a dozen 150-foot per mile miles wanted to go and like a bolt of lightning packing the boats when the rain starts. (overall average of 96 ft/mi). That did not struck their path with no regard for rock. One of my only mistakes in packing was sound too scary so when we rounded the Quite often you will find a beautiful scene not to first test my headlamp. It did last corner only six miles into the run and saw of rolling green hills and flat fertile valleys until about day three. My other mistake one of the most amazing campsites I had dotted with small farms and the river occurred a day earlier when I had to ever seen on a river we cut the day a bit winding through the valley. All of a sudden choose from three old and well used boats: short to take advantage of the overhang there is a near vertical 400-foot rock face a Pyranha that had been repaired under
18 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 the seat, a Rockit or an Embudo. I heard when the rapids topped the Class Mexico and Peru and live in the Sierras good things about the Embudo so decided IV mark. but this was my first real first descent. It to try it. Rocky and I quickly loaded up and was something I had dreamed of since I pushed off the lush valley bank into the A year earlier I was on another major (120- was a budding boater with a huge appetite upper Rio Los Loera. I was immediately mile) first descent with Rocky, Tom Diegel for adventure. I learned a lot about myself stunned at how deep in the water I sat and and Aaron Stable on the Rio Chinipas. and my ability to enjoy and thrive in a how sluggish the boat felt. I understood Rocky said that trip was one of the two harsh environment. The biggest thing for quite soon that I myself (even without the hardest runs he had done in his 8 years me was realizing how much I missed my gear) was too heavy for the boat. This was of exploring Mexico. I know for me it was daughter and wife. I have kayaked all over the source of major frustration, especially the hardest thing I had ever done. It was the world with Cara and was anxious to physically grueling and mentally draining, tell her it was everything I hoped it to be. as the river just kept going through deep Rocky carried a satellite phone with him, narrow gorges and we were constantly but only after six grueling days was I able Aaron Stabel gives a hoot of excitement and Rocky worried about getting cliffed out. For me to get through to my wife. It was a very takes it all in as the canyon finally opens up on the Rio Chinipas it was the trip of a lifetime. I have boated short conversation. all over the US, New Zealand, Ecuador, Photo by Tom Meinholz
www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 19 January/February 2010 “Honey, we made it through the most that this is really no trivial task. Up until harder. Upon reanalyzing the map, Rocky difficult part, it was incredible!” then it did not seem to be much more than realized that this was a much steeper a typical overnight boating trip to a new section that he hadn’t marked: it actually “That’s great dear, but the dog just got bit river with lots of driving. The previous was 300 ft/mi. By the end of this second by a rattlesnake, got to go. Love you, bye” year’s first descent made me realize how it day we realized that we were definitely at really was no different than your first time the beginning of a full-blown epic. We Day two, like most we had, started with down any river except that we are carrying only made it 2.5 miles that day. the morning fog and a slight variation 9 days of food. The Rio Los Loera was only in the river level. After a typical boater’s 5 days, so should have been much easier, Day three started again with just a breakfast I applied my damp gear and right? Shortly after we got under way the slight variation in water level but the dragged my boat through the dry sand and canyon took on a more serious character seriousness of the run was now full tilt. behind a small waterfall down to the river. and things got steep quickly. We were in The day involved an endless repetition I was really taken by the whole scene and and out of our boats often and portaging of paddling a few hundred feet (at best), it really hit me how isolated we were and here and there. The boulders in the river getting out and scouting, then portaging began to grow in size from car-sized to or running—mostly portaging. Lots of Rocky Contos running a clean falls on the first house-sized, completely blocking the rapids that started out fine ended in sieves, descent of the Rio Los Loera river and making the portages harder and undercuts or some other ugly feature.
20 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 There was however about a three-mile I realized what we had gotten ourselves It’s what he thrives on. stretch of some nice runnable rapids. We into. It definitely felt steeper than 150 only covered six miles and ended the day feet per mile and upon further inspection Instead of strangling Rocky I decided to at mile 15. It was towards the end of this of the map it turned out that Rocky had look on the bright side. We are most likely day when I finally asked the million-dollar missed a contour line in this section of the only two people who would ever see question: “Rocky, what did I say about this the river. It also turns out that the contour this absolutely spectacular section of river run after I scouted it on Google Earth?” interval is 100 meters or roughly 300 ft. that flows through the deepest part of the His reply made me want to hurtle him into Rocky felt bad about mislabeling the map, Copper Canyon area. We were around the river: “You said it looked like it had and said he would not have suggested this 5000 feet deep in the canyon. At that point a lot of hard portages.” At that moment river had he been aware of the 300 fpm I really started to pay more attention to I remembered nearly every detail of that section. Missing a contour interval seems the spectacular things we came across and map (except for the name of the river) and excusable since there is an incredible really take it all in. One morning I saw an amount of stuff locked up in Rocky’s brain entire family of monkey- like cats swinging, (he is neuroscientist). But part of me hanging, and running from tree to tree We portaged this falls down the center but found an thinks that while pouring over the maps, eating fruit. Another morning I woke unscoutable line down the far left Rocky’s brain went into denial just so he up and for about half an hour there were
Photo by Rocky Contos could justify doing this grand adventure. some of the most beautiful mosquitoes I
www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 21 January/February 2010 had ever seen. Their wings had a vibrant village of Los Loera where Rocky managed the confluence with the Rio Guerachi (also translucency and were attached to a rich, to leave word about the extra day for our called the Rio Verde), which is seven miles blue chrome-colored exoskeleton. They shuttle driver. We set up camp and found a upstream of the take-out. The weather is were a bit slow but so beautiful that it was great slab of granite to cook dinner on. As fairly predictable in this region. Foggy hard, at least at first, to swat them. we ate we could hear the increasing sound mornings give way to clear skies then of the river and found it to be rising quite clouds build before noon with afternoon We had planned on four days and took an rapidly! By the time dinner was finished, showers pouring down and ending before extra day of food to facilitate a leisurely we had to move to higher ground. Several evening. Day five, however, was the pace. By the end of day three we figured hours later the stress was relieved as the anomaly and the part where “the rain ends” there was a good chance that we would be river held steady and actually started to never happened until the next morning. using the five days of rations. By the end drop a bit. By morning it was just a bit (six The dampness of the trip wreaked havoc of day four we figured there was a good inches) higher than when we first docked with the camera equipment. Rocky’s video chance that we would need another days our vessels the previous evening. camera never worked until the take-out rations so decided to ration the rations. and mine was constantly shutting down Day five continued to be much the same: On day 4 we put in a long day, made a good deep, narrow canyon scenery but with a Rocky Contos boofing on the Rio Los Loera 11 miles (to mile 26), and got off the river lot of rain and a fair bit of runnable rapids.
just before dark. We passed through the We made it 14 miles (to mile 40), nearly to Photo by Tom Meinholz
22 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 due to the moisture. I had always dreamed of putting together a great video and planned for this to be the trip, but alas it was not to be. We did however get a photo and some video of us running a clean 16-footer in a spectacular setting.
On day six we woke to see the testament of unpredictable weather in Mexico and the typical brown water you see in many of Rocky’s photos. This, however, was not just brown, it was dark chocolate brown and raging. The river must have tripled in size and to paddle anywhere near the center of the river was a risky proposition. The previous night we got to within 1.5 miles Tom Standing on the takeout road. Note road of the confluence with the Rio Verde and running up the other side of the canyon from there it was only 7 miles of Class III- IV to the take-out, a bridge. We figured we Photo by Rocky Contos would be at the take-out before noon. Due to the high water portages it was not until noon that we arrived at the confluence. was a mission just to cross the river. We wonderful meal. The sheer volume made for some of the were eddying out on river left in bushes most impressive rapids I had ever seen. that lined the pastures. It took us nearly 2 My plane left the following afternoon Just before the confluence nearly the hours to run the final 6 miles down to the from El Paso, which made for an all night entire river went into a massive whirlpool take-out. drive to Chihuahua where I got on a bus. about 50 feet across and a good six feet From there it was a series of bus changes, deep. How the water exited the whirlpool Being two days late, we figured the shuttle crossing the border on foot, and a frantic was anyone’s guess but it looked to us like driver had most likely gone back to call in taxi ride that got me to the airport a scant the only water going out was somewhere the authorities, but to our surprise he was hour before my flight. Of course, my plane deep below. We guessed the river was now sitting there fishing with some friends. He was delayed for six hours so I headed flowing around 20,000 cfs. had received the message Rocky left three straight to the nearest cantina where I was days earlier. At the take-out we did the shocked back into civilization with three The confluence of the Rio Verde and Los obligatory high five and loaded up the big screens playing the Olympics. Loera starts the Rio Sinforosa and is one truck. At this point I figured the adventure of the most spectacular confluences I have was over, I was so naive. The road down to Rocky has a wealth of information available seen with near vertical 1000-foot walls the take-out was so severe that one of the about the rivers of Mexico on his website, towering straight up from the river. Big racks, even without boats on them, ripped www.sierrarios.org. There you will find water Class II at the confluence brought a clean off Rocky’s truck. Unable to repair everything you need, including maps, of huge relief and a bit of tranquility. Rocky them we had to throw all the gear, plus the some spectacular multiday trips. Soon you had been there previously when he ran the shuttle driver’s friend, in the back. Those can get a copy of this info in a paperback Verde a few years earlier (a trip he wrote guys are tough. version by ordering it on the website. about in American Whitewater). He knew the 7 miles from there to the bridge were It took us 7 hours to drive 70 miles with mostly Class III with half a dozen IVs. As a 5,000-foot elevation gain to the closest we rounded the corner the canyon opened town. The view into Barranca Sinforosa up on the left and near vertical on the going up is truly spectacular. We pulled in right. Our tranquility was very short lived about 10:00pm that night, with me green when previously Class III rapids were now from the exhaust leaking into the cab, but Class V leading into Class V+ with what found a wonderful senora who opened the seemed like 40,000 cfs and total chaos. It doors to her home/diner and cooked us a www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 23 January/February 2010 There’s only one way down . . . The author heads over Gangs of Nor-Cal: the dam Showdown on a 35-footer Photo by Frank Walden
By Raul Adamchak
Thirty rides are lined up along a pullout on over the dough—gotta pay to play here. run when there are recreational releases Highway 70. It’s got to be intimidating for She tucks the money in a belt-pack, down (fought for by AW). Big Bend is at the people driving by. I’m part of it, and I can low around her waist, gives the signal, and bottom of the hill. There is one last power just taste the macho, testosterone filled air. we all thunder off to the take-out. Yo baby, station squeezing the last bit of power out Two gangs are meeting, one from Chico, it’s time to boat. the river before it drops into the reservoir. and one from Sacto (called Sacramento by Just after the power station though, at low outsiders). Mostly what I see is grizzled, The Big Bend run on the Feather River water, there is a 35-foot waterfall over a last older men and young women, some doesn’t run that often. In fact, if the old, funky 1930s dam. And that’s where we dressed in tight black, shiny skins. It’s true, reservoir is full, the run doesn’t exist. But are headed. they are schoolteachers, farmers, lawyers, by late October, after a slew of drought computer programmers, and retired folks, years, the reservoir is low (below 740’) At the take-out everyone prepares for but they’re still tough and aggressive. and the run is a go-go. The Feather River battle and we organize the shuttle. We put They’re gathered in clumps, laughing and Canyon is the most damned, power-lined, on polar fleeces, dry suits or neoprene, and shooting the bull, waiting for the Queen railroad tracked, disturbed mess of river I river shoes, and load the rest of our gear Bee to arrive so the action can begin. have every seen. The more famous sections and boats onto a trailer and a few other Finally, she’s here. Everyone lines up to fork upstream, Cresta, Rock Creek, Tobin only cars. We drive up to the put-in, our car
24 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 filled with the sweet smell of boater funk and down I go. There is not much to see lemmings following each other over the (part neoprene, part fear). because as soon as I hit the bottom, I am cliff? I vote for brave, but I’m clearly biased. shot into a wall of water and close my eyes. I am impressed that everyone could line The put-in is just below the power station. Once on the other side, I am upright and up and run it without fussing. Like I said The car I’m in drives down to edge of what beaming. Running the dam is a kick. above, this is one tough group of people. appears to be a small lake. Water is surging slowly from beneath the power station, but I hang out in the current below the dam After at least an hour of running the dam it’s hard to tell how much. I assume it’s the and watch person after person go over the (some people climb up a rope and run it low end of possible flows. Sooner than I drop. It is enjoyable to watch and I also again), we are on our way downstream. would have guessed, all thirty boaters are help to rescue a few folks or their gear. One Everyone is filled with adrenalin, and geared up and in their boats. We paddle thing I notice about the people who fail to looking for challenging rapids to run. I in small, disorganized groups, talking and roll is that they all lift their heads up as try to ignore the sense that the hardest staring up at the steep walls, following the they are coming up as if to get a quick look (or at least the most exciting) part is over canyon to the dam. Only about 10 minutes at the falls and say “Wow,” before they fall and that we have six miles of easy rapids later I see folks ahead of me pull over on back upside down. I totally understand. left. No one likes the climax to happen river left on the backside of the dam. There too quickly. is not really room for 30 boats on shore, I continue to paddle around in the squirrelly but we do the best we can. water below the dam and start to wonder Again, there is some separation into why we were all here running this 35-foot groups, but 30 boaters is a lot to have The top of damn is rounded, sloping down dam. Surely, it is the biggest drop any of us running through Class III+ to IV- rapids to the water below in a sine wave. The dam has done, and takes a certain focus to line without mishap, and indeed there is some is very old; the concrete job is amateurish up and drop over something that big. True, carnage. The first big rapid is Meat Grinder and not uniform. But a dam is a dam, and the shape of the dam makes the drop very on Steroids, named after Meat Grinder on this one holds back the water, except in the safe. I watch over 40 descents and some the South Fork American, and generates middle, where there is a depression, and are off-line, sideways, or partially flipped water spills eagerly over the edge. More before they hit the bottom, but everyone people than would be allowed by the fire comes through cleanly and unharmed. Fearless boaters relaxing after lunch department climb up on to the dam to Are we brave, skillful boaters or mindless look at the pour over. People whip out their Photo by Frank Walden cameras, and a few boaters who have run it before start over the drop. They make it look easy and I am eager to go. Then one of people running it flips, attempts a roll and fails, attempts another roll and fails, and swims, and swims some more. I think to myself that is time to get off the top of dam; there is only one way down.
As I get into my boat, there are a couple of other people getting ready to run the drop. Suzanne, I know, has run the drop before, so I ask her, “What’s the line?” She responds, “I don’t know”, but doesn’t seem overly concerned. Another boater noticing our indecision, yells, “Keep to the left of that little wave on top.” Within seconds, he has paddled over the top and is gone. Suzanne follows him, angling from left to right, but keeping left of the small wave. Off I go, a few paddle strokes, right on line, and then—whoosh! The bottom falls out www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 25 January/February 2010 a couple of swimmers. It is long, fast and laugh and have a relaxing break. Whatever at the local marina. Pretty much on time, full of holes, which are easy to find if you antagonisms I may have suggested exist four, 20-foot flat-bottomed skiffs show up run off-line. From below, it seems like not between the Chico Paddleheads and the one after the other to carry us back to put- everyone knows what the line is. Gold Country Paddlers, the rival boating in. During the high-speed motor powered gangs, in reality, doesn’t. trip we all agree that the boat shuttle is The next rapid is Class IV Boxcar and worth the $22 each, because it would have we scout it. True to its name, the rapid After lunch, there are a few unremarkable been a long, long paddle. contains the remains of a railroad car on Class IIIs, and then two last Class IVs river left. Most people run a far right slot/ just before the end. One is read and run, Even though the 35-foot falls is “easy” boof. A few hardy souls run over the pour- and most people eddy-hop easily down and rest of the river enjoyable, but overs in the middle. Everyone flips in the the right hand side. A few people choose not intimidating, we are all seemingly pour-overs, but there is a big recovery pool to go into holes and swim out. The other bonded by this trip. For a second or two and no swims. requires that paddlers start right and on the river, we all had to be focused and work left. determined enough to run the dam and We stop for lunch at a beautiful pile of the rapids below. We respect each other rocks and ledges on river left and talk and This run exists because the reservoir is for being able to do that. Everyone had low, but it still ends in the reservoir. This is fun too, but I think appreciates the mutual where the pay to play comes in. The take- respect even more. I guess that’s what out is about six miles from put-in by water, keeps a gang together. Infamous California Boater Gangs on Highway 70 if you don’t get lost. The Queen Bee, Ilona
Photo by Frank Walden Karow, has organized a boat shuttle for 30
26 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010
Tuckerman’s Ravine looking up from Route 16 Photo by Darron Laughland
Boards and Boats: of Mount Washington in the White their way up the trail. After the first few A Classic New Mountains of New Hampshire. From the steep pitches of the trail the excited and bottom of the Tuckerman’s Ravine bowl easygoing chatter of conversation gives England Adventure flows the Cutler River. It babbles and way to the rustling of fabric and the hard crashes down several thousand feet of breathing required to pump the legs up By Darron Laughland steep forested terrain descending south and down, hauling a few extra pounds of out of the notch, passing under Route 16 to boots, binding, and ski with each step. For a group of Mount Washington Valley join and swell the flow of the Ellis River. paddlers and skiers, the perfect day occurs The day begins with a half hour drive from After an hour and a half of hiking, the trees when work and family obligations align North Conway to Pinkham Notch, one of begin to get shorter and more gnarled, with weather, river levels, and in this the state’s most beautiful rides. A car is the wide trail eventually crossing over case, snow conditions. On this particular dropped off to set shuttle for the paddle, a still winter-locked Cutler river that is day, a classic backcountry ski run literally and as the last of the coffee is downed, stirring to life beneath the bridge. Twenty melted into a classic creek run. An alpine the trucks pull into the Appalachian minutes later “Ho-JO’s,” the AMC Tuck’s hike, followed by a backcountry ski on Mountain Club’s Pinkham Notch Visitor Caretaker cabin, comes into view and Mount Washington, a long cruising decent Center, joining the gathering horde of dozens of similarly clad adventurers stop to the valley floor, then a run down one skiers in a somewhat carnival atmosphere. for a few minutes to drink, eat, throw on of the classiest creek runs of the Whites, Shouldering a pack with avalanche beacon, a layer, and rest before the final push up topped with an obligatory stop at the shovel, snow probe, food, extra layers, the Little Headwall and into the bowl that Moat Mountain House for a hot meal and water, the team of skiers begins their is Tuckerman’s Ravine. Clusters of people and debrief all add up to a perfect day several-thousand-foot ascent. The trail ready themselves, reviewing the avalanche of White Mountain living for a crew of is packed out already by dozens, maybe report, commenting on the conditions, local paddlers. hundreds of skiers. Early in the day, the noting the weather. Every few minutes snow is crusty, and crunches loudly more climbers follow the track going up Tuckerman’s Ravine sits on the shoulders underfoot as the line of climbers make towards the ridge above.
28 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 People fade into small colored specks, the steps kicked into the snow feel like bristling with skis or snowboards, a climbing a ladder, the knowledge that rainbow of Gore-Tex and nylon ants, a slip or fall would result in a long cart- marching in tight ordered rows out of wheeling yard sale makes itself known as sight, to the a cluster of rocks at the base each boot thunks into the granular mush, of a couloir known as Right Gully. Here, searching for traction. the real climbing begins. Sip water, check the avalanche beacon, and trudge in the softening snow to the long line of people ascending the steep cirque to the cliff Nate going in to the last drop of the Ellis Gorge bands and white expanse above. When Photo by Dick Pollack
Nate going in to the last drop of the Ellis Gorge
Photo by Dick Pollack www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 29 January/February 2010 At some point, each skier or rider makes up, pumped full after a great ski, a snack, that marks the entrance to a short gorge. a decision about where and how to attach and some loud grooves on the short drive The line follows the water pouring over their gear and begin their descent. From down Route 16. boulders into an exploding pillow that the top of Right Gully, a long chute guards the middle of the river. The boats terminates at lunch rocks, for those going A small armada of brightly colored boats drive into the right side of the pillow. over “The Lip,” there are cliff bands amidst departs around a snow and lichen covered Each paddler leans into the foam. The a wide expanse of pitched terrain. Along outcropping downstream of the put-in pillow absorbs momentum. A fast sweep the shoulders of the ravine hang steeper and out of sight. Immediately after put-in maintains a straight line down the right chutes with catastrophic consequences there is a ledge drop with an ugly pin rock side of the river. The boats drive onto for a fall, beckoning only to the experts. on the right. The line bumps down over a shelf. One at a time, each paddler falls The same soul searching gut check that the middle of the ledge, dropping 15 feet off the shelf. The boats melt down with paddlers looking at the line over a falls into a pool. After that, it’s boogey water a right lean onto a brace. Then, arcing or through exploding waves amidst a to a fun double drop. The flow narrows over a small horseshoe shaped falls, they chaotic technical rapid takes place in the to a funky notch at the top, then a three- drop, following the tongue on the left, skier’s mind. footer. A quick scout of the third drop each finding a line through the bedrock refreshes the memory. An exposed rock channels below. An interesting zigzag There are no eddies here as gravity pours at the bottom sits on the left. It requires a move is required a bit further down to speed on. The malleable surface underfoot Class IV move to stick it properly. Boats avoid slamming into a wall. The high leaves arcing troughs with each turn. gather speed and a little angle; initiate a potential to flip and flush upside down Wind and snow spray pelt and bluster, strong boof, landing in the froth. The bow into the rock demands the right angle as flourishing in intensity. The bottom of the parts the water to cruise into the pool just the paddle grabs and then pulls across bowl crashes upward. Past the lunch rocks, past the huge rock on river left. This drop the green water. Once this move is nailed, down the Little Headwall on to the John provides some entertainment and good things mellow considerably. Sherburne Ski Trail. The skiers weave down crash footage. Two paddlers hit the rock, the mountain’s mix of moguls, hard pack, one just a dull thunk, and one pitoning off A short Class III cool down leads to the and double fall lines. Sunlight penetrates his bow into a face plant against the ledge bridge and the take-out. Past this, the the snow surface. The rivulets of water on the right. The next drop has a slot that near constant Class III-IV rapids continue lubricate the pellets into mush. Although runs nearly perpendicular to the flow of for many miles. There are access points the muscle groups that surround the femur the river. Some choose to walk. The two to break the remainder of the river into are the largest in the body, by now they are who run it sand fiberglass off their paddle additional sections as the river carves fatiguing with each turn and bend of the blade dragging it down the granite to stay its way down Pinkham Notch into the knee. A few minutes and several hundred upright. The last ugly drop into shallow “Classic New England” village of Jackson. turns later, legs wrung out from the hike water, with an alternate even uglier piton Just south of the idyllic covered bridges, and the ski, the intrepid party arrives at line, is walked. A bumpy low angle bedrock golf course and Nordic skiing center, and the parking lot. slide froths and scurries its way into a pool a scattering of restaurants and inns, a dam and brings the section to an end. mandates a portage. Below the dam the The pickups with creek boats perched on geology changes and the river has more top are waiting at the end of the lot. Skis This pool at the USGS gauge marks the play and it is a short paddle under Route are thrown over the shoulder, heel throw start of over a mile of full on boogie 302 to a takeout near the confluence with and cable bouncing along, snow dripping boating Class IV and V through boulder- the Saco River. Had it been earlier in the off the boards as it turns to water in the choked rapids. Blind drops, slots, short day, an additional stretch may have been afternoon heat. Sitting on the tailgate, slides, with few boat scoutable sections tackled, but at this point, the crew is ready parkas and snow pants are piled into the make slow going for a first timer. Today, for a meal and celebratory beverage. An packs with the beacons, extra layers, and with home field advantage, the crew slows hour later in the corner of “the Moat,” with other assorted paraphernalia. They are only to check for wood, and periodically hot food on board, the cameras are passed traded for dry suits, spray decks, PFDs, to rest and tighten up the formation. A around and the stories recounted. It’s a elbow pads, and booties, the skis, poles, few hundred yards down there is a right perfect end to a perfect day of skiing and packs and boots, are pushed to the back hand blind boof. Bobbing flashes of color paddling two White Mountain classics of the truck bed, and the paddles tossed move down on river left, threading small and living well in the Mount Washington on top. boulders, often submerged in the cascade. Valley of New Hampshire. Each lines up for a small waterfall landing The convoy makes a ten-minute drive south on a rock. Right at the lip, a quick stroke Darron Laughland is a river guide, to the put-in, pulling the trucks in tight to to aim right and boof gently drops the kayak instructor, telemark skier, and in the snow bank, after letting the passengers boat into aerated water. Farther down, the “off season,” a high school English out. A shuttle of a little over a mile had each member pauses as the paddler in and Special Education Teacher. He lives already been set early that morning, with front of them draws to the edge of the first in Conway, NH with his wife and two vehicles left near the Rocky Branch Trail of the stair case drops, a series of several sons. This article is dedicated to Big Air parking lot. The Ellis is running a little small falls. A piton rock sits in the runout, Lar and The Whitewater Outlaw, who over two feet on the old USGS pipe gauge, demanding a well-timed draw stroke. I paddled the Ellis with, before their rising with the snowmelt, to a perfect unfortunate passing. medium flow. The energy of the group is The river then curves through an S-turn
30 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010
Searching for the Edge of drop, I thought it was amazing I survived This new waterfall mission started with the descent. That three-foot horizon line a bit of planning. Who would join me? the World looked like the edge of the world. Paddlers Where are the closest 30 to 45 footers? Is keep pushing the limits. It’s hard to believe my health insurance paid up? These were By Jeff West the world waterfall record was recently set all important questions. Matt Wallace at 186 feet! Personally, my vertical limit joined in the quest and with a little research Standing beside a popular roadside waterfall has stayed around 25 feet for a decade. we were off to our first waterfall. you’ll hear the tourist chatting about scenic Single drops higher than that have always beauty, the local good ‘ole boys talking seemed a bit much—at least until recently. The drive gave us a chance to chat waterfall about tubing, and the kayakers debating technique. When do you tuck? How are you lines. Even the kayakers’ perceptions of the Maybe a mid-life crisis drove me to supposed to spot your landing with your waterfall will vary greatly. A beginner may it. Attending my 20-year reunion and eyes closed? Do these big time waterfall see an unrunnable rapid, an intermediate discovering my high school buddies guys really pour several gallons of water in may see a fun drop and an expert may are now grandparents didn’t help. For their boat? Is it better to throw the paddle not even get excited. All paddlers have whatever reason I decided it was time to or reference it? Joking about this stuff was our own evolving idea of an acceptable try waterfalls in the 30 to 45-foot range. It more fun than considering the serious height from which to launch a boat. I can was time to see what all the fuss was about. possibility of becoming maimed. remember my first three-foot ledge as a By gosh, it was time to huck some drops! beginner. Even though my Mirage was Our first big waterfall was a rolling lip 40 four times longer than the height of the footer. No rocks at the bottom, just the hard hit of falling 40 feet. The approach was Class II and a perfectly placed limb made a great marker for lining it up. Standing at the lip of the drop looking down on the tree tops I suddenly remembered my fear of heights. Time to get back in my kayak where I felt safe! As I paddled into the rolling lip entrance I reminded myself to keep it straight. I was on line and the kayak accelerated in an indescribable way. I saw the landing, threw the paddle and tucked like there was no tomorrow. WOW! That barely hurt! I didn’t even flip! I couldn’t believe it: That was freaking fun!
The adrenalin was pumping and the drive home was full of waterfall talk. We were both surprised by the minimal hit. It stung, but it wasn’t bad. It reminded me of tackling someone in football. Our first big waterfall had been a success and we were stoked to prepare for waterfall number two!
Our next waterfall opportunity came a few days later. The adrenaline had worn
Matt Wallace dropping a 40 foot slide in Georgia
Photo by
32 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 off from our first success, but a slight a lot of water for a southern creeker to Jeff West takes the center line on Little River pain in my lower back and neck persisted. pound through. Surprisingly, I held the Canyon Falls I convinced myself it was just a nice line and approached the lip exactly where reminder of the importance of a good I wanted. Some primal and instinctive Photo by Matt Wallace tuck. For waterfall number two we chose reflex took over and I boofed the crap the center line at Little River Canyon Falls. out of it. There I was, flying through 30 This is about a 30-foot vertical drop. The feet of air completely flat with the perfect center line is only runnable at high water. boof. What had I done? I couldn’t resist, This day we had very high water, 30 inches the pad looked so inviting. Time to tuck! on the gauge or about 6,000 cfs. Watching Boooooof, the landing was smooth! The 6,000 cfs fall 30 feet is not reassuring. The huge boil in the landing zone made my flat hole at the bottom was huge. The approach kayak land as if it was landing on a giant was full-on. Plus, the line at the lip was 100 bowl of Jell-O. It didn’t hurt at all, in fact, it feet from shore. Scouting from 100 feet is felt great! Waterfall number two was more not ideal. The line was to drive right, bust fun than number one. Once again, a good through a Rock Island size hole, punch tuck made the day. a stout diagonal wave, line it up and fly off. Matt’s line was good, which left me With two big drops under our belts we at the top by myself. I handed the camera started to feel good with our waterfall to a tourist and went for it. 6,000 cfs is quest. We were solid with holding our
www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 33 January/February 2010 line, tucking and dealing with the paddle. the Raven at low flow and climbed and I needed to work on controlling the angle swam the drop. This day, I put on knowing for landing. No more boofing! With no it may be time for my Big Boy first descent. rain in the forecast I headed to an old I couldn’t have asked for a better day. The faithful to learn how to better pencil. Baby level, weather, everything was perfect. We Falls on the Tellico became my practice knocked out the paddle down to Big Boy field. Plus, climbing back to the top each in only 15 minutes. My lines were solid time for another run was a nice workout. and when I stepped out above the drop I Like many southern boaters I’ve logged left my boat facing towards the water ready countless runs on this easy 10-footer. to go. I walked to the edge for one last The problem is that I have spent 15 years scout. The line was obvious: drive left, aim boofing it. Time to practice penciling! for the seam, take a big right stroke and After a few runs I dialed the stroke in. A land a few feet from the most menacing more subtle stroke that gently pries on the looking rock I have ever seen. There is water was the ticket. Nice and easy! even a nice diagonal wave breaking from The downtime awaiting more rain allowed the right to guide you. But, I just didn’t Jeff West eliminates the paddle threat on Mill Creek me to get my head around this new see it happening. I saw the line, but I Falls, Georgia waterfall hobby. When creek boating, I try couldn’t stop imagining flying through to focus on the run as a whole, not just the the air and splatting on the boulder to the Photo by Russell Hobby big rapids. Class V paddlers often have the right. Falling 33 feet and landing on a dry worst wipeouts in Class IV whitewater. It’s rock would be horrible. The risk seemed the not-so-big ones that get you. Worrying too great. Many paddlers run this drop about a big drop five rapids downstream regularly, but it wasn’t my time yet. My I plugged into the pool at the bottom and is a recipe for trouble. But running big little voice sent me portaging again at Big surfaced upright and smiling. Matt flew off waterfalls can make one rapid your whole Boy. Maybe one day! a few minutes later with a great line. That day. The size of the drop requires you drop will keep us smiling for a few weeks! to focus and channel all of your energy The amazing fall rains kept pouring and a into one series of moves. A few crucial week later Matt and I had our chance at I am no expert on waterfall hucking, but body movements will make or break Mill Creek Falls. This waterfall is huge! A I can tell you it is loads of fun! Setting you. It becomes obsessive. Every stroke 10-foot boof leads into an eight-foot boof, and pursuing individual goals is one of is planned. David didn’t have all day to which lands on a 45-foot slide/drop. This the greatest parts of our sport. Dropping defeat Goliath. He only had a few seconds rapid has only been run a few times. The a waterfall is certainly an exciting way to and one shot at it. With the size of these pool is deep, but the entrance is tricky. The push your limits. I recently saw a picture drops you have to be smooth and precise. first time I scouted this drop I couldn’t of the three-foot drop I ran in my Mirage This waterfall hucking stuff requires a lot imagine paddling it. The encouragement years ago. I can still remember how scared of multi tasking. It all comes down to a came with a low water hike. I spent I was above that seemingly enormous couple of seconds, a few exact moves, and several hours climbing the waterfall and drop back then. It’s funny how we all have a bit of luck. swimming the pool. After a heavy night an evolving idea of what the edge of the of thunderstorms in the Cohuttas it was world looks like. Our chance for our third big drop came time. We met at 7:00 a.m. and set shuttle. surprisingly soon. The Smokey Mountain The waterfall is only a short distance from National Park was drenched by a storm the put-in. We hopped out to scout and and the mighty Raven Fork was flowing. my little voice gave a thumbs-up. Walking The Raven Fork is home to one of the back to the top I actually felt calm. The south’s toughest drops, Big Boy. This is a nervous energy of running a waterfall was 33-foot waterfall dropping beside a large replaced with the focus of scouting a rapid. rock. I’ve been lucky to paddle the Raven I went over the sequence in my mind: boof many times in the past several years, but I left, boof left, keep it straight, spot landing, have always portaged Big Boy. I’ve scouted throw paddle and tuck! Peeling out at the the drop from every angle: left, right, top I stayed focused on connecting the downstream, upstream. Plus, I’ve hiked dots. Everything went according to plan!
34 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 Little Paddler, Big Creek
By Lauren Burress
After camping at the put-in for almost a body slam him, we realized dad’s yellow week we finally got the opportunity to run kayak wasn’t on shore anymore! We of Upper Big Creek. Even though the three- course instinctively (having experience mile hike to the put-in seemed to take with a missing boat before) looked down forever (the creek boat on my shoulder stream, and there it was maneuvering its didn’t help), it was definitely worth it! way through the rapids along with dad’s After about a half mile of Class IV boogie new paddle stuck in the cockpit! We water the run gets a little more technical start swimming towards it, and luckily it with a couple of drops, and a few things decided to eddy out at just the right time. you would need to scout, like trees across Being really happy that we weren’t going to the river. But it’s pretty mellow until you have to chase this boat (and paddle) half get to Midnight Hole, then it starts loosing way down the lower section of Big Creek, elevation, and drops into Action Alley, we threw it up on shore. Then dad decided the steepest section on the run. It’s filled to have another dunking contest, which he Lauren Burress and Dad on Big Creek with slots, boofs, and a couple of sketchy won, again. undercuts, but is still probably the funnest Photo by Kathleen Burress section on the run! After Action Alley Big The run was a great reminder of how Creek drops down again and goes back much I missed Tennessee while I was in to Class IV, and eventually ends up at Colorado. And I have to say the change the take-out. in climate was very nice! Much, much warmer! All in all, Big Creek was a nice Once we got to the bridge (take-out), reintroduction to Southeast creeking. I dad decided to go swimming and bring can’t wait for more! me with him. After dad dunking me under a few times and me attempting to www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 35 January/February 2010 Riverboard on but the only riverboarder, and to my like the obvious line had a retentive knowledge the first to attempt Thunder hole at the bottom. The froth was tilting Thunder Creek Creek. I was excited to catch the action on backwards in an obvious manner. The left my helmet camera, but alas, the batteries line was a boof off about two inches of By Rochelle Parry drained when I accidentally left the power water jutting out from a horizontal rock. on during the hike in. I captured a few Scrape city! Hole or scrape. There looked You know you’re out in the wilderness when rapids, but the best occurred after it died. like a sneak line to the left of the boof the Verizon network gave up on you 20 The aquamarine water was refreshing after with an eddy above, but from the other miles back, but even though it works only the hike and 50 yards of log-hopping down side of the river it looked really narrow. I sporadically in the city, AT&T manages a hillside of old growth forest. If I'd known ferried across to the eddy and looked over, to find a signal. I wasn’t sure I would get how much scouting/portaging we'd do, it was perfect and clean! I backed up a bit to riverboard Thunder Creek when I left I would have just worn the 5 mil wetsuit and came down the four footer smooth, home on Friday, August 7th. Video footage without the farmer over it. avoiding the perpendicular tree along the (http://vimeo.com/310265) had provided left side. Ahhhhhh…. a lust-worthy tease, and the levels were We jumped into a big eddy at the base of excellent. a cascade. The first few drops weren't too One side benefit to all of the hiking, critical but I was tired from hiking in a scouting, and portaging was the ample Diablo Lake provides breathtaking wetsuit. On the trail I could easily have lay huckleberries and blueberries along the mountain scenery and emerald colored down and slept. The double Nooksak run way. The blueberries weren't as sweet as water. Thunder Creek flows into it, feeding on Thursday, cross-fit classes Thursday and they could be (it was only August) but I ate off the melting glaciers above. Friday Friday mornings, and the frozen 8 miler a bunch anyway. night I camped with the Washington on the Skagit left me a bit low on energy. Recreational River Runners, boaters who Which affected my decision, with nine The rest of the creek was read 'n run until take recreation seriously. The eight-mile others, to portage the first burly waterfall. we had to portage another log jam. I didn't stretch on the Skagit River for the Saturday Trials is at least 10 to 15 feet of narrowing bother taking off my flippers for the five- poker run had a couple of short, easy Class madness with a bumpy lead-in and a cave minute hike. Below that was at least 200 III sections, lots of flat water, and even in behind. Leif Embertson disappeared for a yards of flatwater back to the campground. two wetsuits, I was cold by the take-out. good four seconds and took three tries to I lay on my back on the board and stared I had managed a good enough hand for right himself in the aerated mess below. at the sky, slowly drifting toward the lake. a Hail Mary throw bag, and also got a And he's one of the strongest in our group. How could I have never come up here kayaker hooked on riverboarding. I wasn’t really afraid of the drop, more of before to enjoy all this God-created glory? what might happen afterwards. Getting The area had everything; lakes, trees, Ian, a Colorado-based paddler, joined us sucked behind the falls isn't my idea of a glacier-speckled peaks, and that day, the for the Skagit run and provided a link—via good time. sun even came out. A headwind brought AT&T cellular—to the Bellingham boaters me to a stand still. Time to flip over, ignore who had hinted at running Thunder Creek. ;The next series of drops, Dim Sum, my aching everything, and get back to He camped at the trailhead campground provide the reward for the hike. Chopstix land to end the four-mile creek run 3 ½ and I met up with him Sunday morning. is appropriately named: whitened trees hours later. By 10:30 am, we had ten boaters readying criss cross over the gorge 10-20 feet above their gear: Dirk Fabian, Eric Mickelson, with one log only a foot or two over the Rochelle Parry started riverboarding in Ian Hunter, Hilary Neevel, Chris Tretwold, water, necessitating a limbo or roll move 2005. If you’d like to try riverboarding Rochelle Parry, Erik Zydervelt, Leif in a kayak. The next ledge is a 10-footer, in Washington please contact her at Embertson, Hale Hanaway, and Shane followed by a 25-foot-long pool and then [email protected] or visit her site at Robinson. another drop. www.eriverboarding.com
A riverboard weighs under 10 lbs. and isn't Just after the drops there is a rooster-tail too hard to carry without additional straps. shaped rock creating a launch pad over a A kayak alone is 45 lbs., and requires a ledge. It looks really freaky because you special backpack. Which would you rather can see the rock protruding vertically carry for four miles? Chris showed up about four feet high, but the right side with almost visible post-birthday Tequila was runnable. Total launch slide, so fun to residue and offered to trade crafts with me riverboard I couldn't help but hoot about two miles in. Fat chance. it for a minute afterwards.
I was one of two ladies on this outing, A tricky spot came up when what looked
36 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 Top: Hiking into Thunder Creek. Rochelle Parry, Chris Tretwold, Erik Zydervelt
Bottom: Leif on Trials Falls
Photos by Eric Michelson Racing Daylight
By Eric Adsit
“The ledges are running, leaving at 2.”
The LCD screen on my phone seemed much clearer than the chicken scratch on the chalkboard at the front of the room. And so the current of time slows for the first time today.
Four hours and three yawn punctuated classes later I stride away from the bustle of students, grades, and faculty to another world, veiled by the mist in the mountains. Time resumes its trickle forward steadily. Only a few minutes more and I’ll have my kayak loaded on the car, my gear packed, and we’ll be on our way. But no, it never works like that. People arrive late, lethargically collecting personal gear, like boulders slowly settling into the riverbed. the Adirondack mountains across the lake, Sometimes the current of time slows and bubbles up. Time wells up around these boulders and but their angle says something more. We’re Other times it streams away faster than you can see rushes through the gaps, simultaneously running out of daylight, and we aren’t slowing down and flitting away. And so even on the river yet. Getting dressed in Photo by Eric Adsit I sit, kayak loaded, gear packed, waiting. the car is awkward but it will save time Every second we wait is a second we could at the put-in. I wonder what exactly the be on the river. In the late afternoon on a Vermont seatbelt laws say about changing for the group. They cast dubious glances rainy November day in Vermont, daylight into polar fleece and polypropylene in the at the river, not wanting to say they are slips away quickly. back of a moving vehicle. We squeeze out uncomfortable. They know just as well as of the car, breathing in the clear mountain I do that this is a proving ground for the I drift away in my own thoughts, the air, infused with the smell of unwashed advanced boaters, and their decision will nervous excitement filling the car gear. It’s colder here, and I’m glad I wore determine what we run today. They don’t pervading only occasionally. Names of a second layer. I’ve stood in this exact spot say anything, and a light breeze on the not-so-far-off magical places swirl around each week for the past three weeks, and back of our necks reminds us of the fading me, evoking half memories and dreams of each week it is foreign to me. Islands of rock daylight. We make the decision for them, glistening rocks and roiling whitewater, and sediment are turned to explosions of we’ll run the lower half of the ledges and a sense of solitude and focus enwrapped white, wave trains crash against boulders, kayak the rest of the river to the lower in one. and the babbling laughing stream that take-out. Every trip is a delicate balance in once was here throws a tantrum at my feet. determining the development of a paddler, “The ledges will be too high, we should do You can smell it, you can taste it, and you and a rushed run down a borderline Class Patterson Brook.” can see it; but most of all you feel the soul V creek won’t benefit anyone here. It will of the river, shaking the ground below and run again. I turn away from the staircase of “But that’s an extra half hour and on the permeating your lungs through the air. If white before me and readjust my lifejacket. west side of the mountain; we’d never ever there were a connection among all The first rapid starts with a few boulders make it down in time.” people, it is the awe we feel in the face of to sneak by and then drops in a slight arc moving water. downward and away to the right. I’m first, “What about the Lower New Haven? We and I savor the freedom. My route shall be can look at the ledges and then run the Calmly I look down the slope to the mass entirely my own, obscured only by my own lower before we run out of daylight. It’s on of water spread out before me, brown definition of what is possible. Accelerating the east side too, so we’ll have extra light.” tinged with sediment and debris. It’s down the slide I ramp up on the face of bigger, stronger, just what I was looking a standing wave, a large hole below me. It’s settled. The sun’s rays peek through the for. I can do this, I am confident, ready. It’s happened twice as fast as last time, clouds, beautiful spotlights highlighting But the others. This isn’t my trip, it’s a trip and suddenly I’m gasping my last breath
38 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 for who knows how long and everything bow up and landing flat to see everyone We both know this is untrue. What is goes dark. in the eddy to my left. Good, but why is he thinking? I won’t argue; that would there someone standing up in the water? only send the current of time careening You don’t notice the roar until it’s gone. The paddler has all of his gear and quickly forward faster, and at this point it is almost Down here, in the darkness everything is empties his boat. The only thing left is a breakneck pace. We take off, speeding quiet. My mind wanders as my arms bring to make sure the people who decided to around the meandering streambed, peering the paddle to the surface, flatten the blade portage make it into their boats. The last warily around the bends for tree branches against the surface, wait… wait… there major drop is ahead of us, from here it will in the river. At some point the group has to be resistance against the blade. be comparably easy, a Class III run … in divides into two groups of four, and then Now. Jerking my hips to the right, I drop the daylight. we diverge into groups of two. The feeling my head down and complete the reflex I of solitude creeps back in the waning light. have learned from years of practice. The Another swim. It’s been two hours and On the road above, ethereal lights flash by, roar returns, and I shake the water from twenty minutes since we began our trip. the only evidence of those other people, my eyes. It’s cold and I can feel my nerves The sun will set in twenty minutes, it’s the ones who don’t understand. It’s strange tingling. Fifty yards ahead of me cliffs overcast, and we have nearly three miles seeing headlights as I float by. I’m a ghost loom overhead and mist raises to eyelevel to paddle before we reach our vehicles. I of the past, lost in the ripple of time and from 15 feet below. I sidesurf a hole above drop over a slide sideways and feel myself the lights pass unaware of my presence. the drop, doing spins and digging deep getting sucked into a hole. No problem, I’ll We are in different realms, these mystical when I’ve had enough. Everyone is here, surf this one out just like the one above the lights in the fog above and I, and I wouldn’t nervously shifting around in the swirling waterfall. I feel stable, I’m not bouncing have it any other way. eddy above the lip. A small group has unpredictably, and as I look around I gathered alongside the shore to watch notice a flat seam along the edge of my White highlights roll out ahead of me. us in our partially controlled freefall. I boat. A smooth uniform ledge is creating Beyond them are indistinguishable paddle toward the edge, looking up at the this, and my only chance to surf out is to shadows melding into one another. The spectators. What separates us from them? cross the worst part of the hole backwards very thing that makes this difficult is Do they think we’re crazy? Entertainment? and spin out. I have minutes, hours, days guiding me along my way. Cold mounds I want to break the barrier, call out to to contemplate my options, to execute of water pile up against the fluid darkness. them, reach them somehow, and let them the moves. Not enough blade angle. My Is it a boulder, or just a wave? Even the understand what we know. They swirl away paddle, and the support keeping me in rushing of the water is disorienting. in the mist and in my freefall the distance the realm of oxygen, slips deep under the It echoes, magnified by the darkness, grows, physically and ethereally. In the surface. My first instinct is to roll, but I feel emanating from all points. This one is blink of an eye I have descended into a a force pulling on my paddle. The green a rock! Something is different; it’s a little consciousness shared only by those who water! I’m saved by the current moving more solid this time. I pull a desperate experience the soul of a river. I look back downstream beneath the surface. Fighting stroke on my right and raise my bow up up at the people watching above, mothers my will to breathe, I remain upside down and over the obstruction. It’s another holding children tight as they peer over the as the current of time sweeps and billows close call, and the reason my nerves tingle edge, a few teenagers contemplating their around in a pool, slowing everything. electrically. On my right a hill rises above own descent in tubes, and an old man, Finally, I roll up and catch an eddy. Patting me, faintly outlined by the cobalt sky. remembering his lost youth. The mist my head with my hand I let the others Spectral bodies of scrapped cars loom out blows into my eyes and they are lost. It’s not know I’m ok. of the darkness on the hillside, a reminder too late for them, but I won’t be here when of time’s constant flow. It’s another world they come, for my path lies downstream, My second surf in a hole today, although here, another time. beyond the next horizon line. this one was unintentional. A kayaker from another group comes down to the When we reach the take-out I realize It’s all a blur. White waves crashing down, water’s edge to watch us. It’s getting dark it was never a race against daylight. As rocks obstructing the best path, and fast and I’m concerned about making it to simply as water moves downstream, time always the current, pushing ahead. Never the take-out. As the others bounce down continues into the future, uncontrolled resting, never pausing. Someone flips, rolls the boulders and slides I ask him if we can and inexorable. In the end we must accept up and immediately disappears below the get a ride to the take-out. He gladly nods time’s path for what it is, and embrace it horizon. Is he ok? Will he get surfed? How his head. He knows too that we will be much the same as we embrace the force of much time do we give him? Each question paddling in the dark if we don’t hurry. I gravity on water. Embracing the night, I widens the river of time streaming away. call the trip leader over and ask if he thinks lean back, close my eyes, and feel the cold One by one we drop over the edge, into we should get out here. flow of time through my fingertips and the unknown, hoping the previous person away over the boulders. has made it through allright. I’m last, and “No, we have time.” I paddle slowly to the edge, lifting my www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 39 January/February 2010 Tom Diegel mockingly named this rapid “Rocky’s Class IV” - it may have been a Class V First Descent of Río Chínipas - A To Be Class IV Photo by Rocky Contos Mexican Classic
By Rocky Contos
It is the eighth morning of our first or long sections to do. The only question familiar with the area know that the train descent of the Ríos Huevachic-Charuyvo- we face now is whether the remainder stops at Divisadero, a point on the rim Chínipas, and we are very happy to be of the river will be as nice as what we’ve from where tourists can peer down into paddling the lower section of river that already seen. Río Urique in the Copper Canyon. What has a more moderate gradient (here, called most people don’t know is that Rio Oteros- Río Chínipas). At this point, we are in a Geographic Details of Chínipas is the bigger river on the other gorge section located >more than 3000 side of the tracks, carving a canyon nearly feet below the rim where the village of Río Chínipas as deep and passing through beautiful Gasogachi is located. So far it is meeting remote terrain. Río Chínipas has up to my expectation, an excellent Class IV river Río Chínipas is a major river that 102 miles of Class III-IV whitewater to that all other advanced paddlers coming flows west and south to join Río Fuerte float, and is similar to the Tuolumne River to the Copper Canyon area will want downstream of the confluence with Río in California in volume. There are three to do. It has a pretty good flow (average Urique, but upstream of the city of El main upper branches, each with its own 3000 cfs in August), a gorgeous canyon, Fuerte. The headwaters of Río Chínipas Class V run: Río Oteros (the longest), Río tons of challenging and fun Class III-IV are in the region just west of Creel, the Huevachi-Charuyvo, and Río Maguarichi. rapids, fine camps, clean water, no trash, main mountain outpost town for explorers All three of the upper branches join within comfortable summer weather, and short of the Copper Canyon area. Most people 1 km of each other, at a point that can be
40 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 accessed by dirt road. The Main Chínipas starts at the upper confluence where Ríos Maguarichi and Charuyvo join. About 60 miles downstream, the river passes by Chínipas, the town that gives the river its name. This town is another access point and divides the river into upper and lower sections. The Confluences Section
We camped at the Río Maguarichi- Charuyvo confluence on our first descent trip, after six days of physically and mentally exhausting paddling/portaging down Río Huevachic-Charuyvo. Although tired, I still found the energy to hike for a couple of hours up to a higher points so I a sticky recirculation. Tom D thought this silver, gold, and copper mines). could see into the gorge below and view was Class V. agreedmight He mockingly Río Oteros (only 1 km downstream of our ,named the rapid “Rocky’s Class IV.” Later that afternoon, in another section of camp), which sports a chasm of greater sympathized with its true y.At this point Class III-IV rapids, the rain started pouring than 250 feet/mile several kilometers no one want a potential swim in the hole down on us. This was more a pleasure than upstream. While I couldn’t see Río Oteros so we did the simple portage and moved nuisance, since it was still warm and we on my hike, I could see the next rapid that on, running two more Class III-IV rapids were all decked-out in our paddling gear. we were to face downstream: apparently to Río Oteros. Río Oteros was tumbling It only lasted about 30 minutes, as do most a Class IV that led into a pool and gorgy down to the confluence in a Class V rapid summer thundershowers in that area. This section. I returned to camp and relayed the by a footbridge, and doubled the flow to brings up another aspect of this river and observation to my partners: Tom Diegel, about 2500 cfs. For the next four miles, others in the region: their season. They Tom Meinholz, and Aaron Stabel. we ran a number of fun Class III and IV are fed from rain that usually falls from rapids, some in a red-walled gorge where monsoon-type thundershowers in the When we arrived at that rapid, it looked several prospectors seemed to be camped summer. The most reliable month for good worse at river level, with the last hole having (the Sierra Madre here is known for its flows is August, followed by September and July. The Gasogachi Gorge
One of the highlight sections of this river is the “Gasogachi Gorge,” below the village of the same namethat sits that sits high above the river. The walls closed in and we were confronted with two major Class V rapids, the first of which I dubbed “Mambo.” I was probably thinking more of the venomous “mamba” snake than the Cuban dance at the time, but even after bestowing the labelappellation, I decided it still made sense if you think about “dancing with the water” through the rapid, but being bitten really badly if you mess up. I suppose the second one could be called “Mamba.” These two Class Vs are
View into Rio Chinipas Canyon just before the confluence with Rio Oteros
Photo by Rocky Contos www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 41 January/February 2010 easily portaged, and would liven up a trip when we hit the reservoir in another day One guy says there is a drop of 20 feet! In for expert boaters willing to tackle them. or two. This section of free flowing river about six miles the walls do close in and I They could be considered equivalents to scoots us along quickly. Since we are come upon the two Saltos Chínipas.” They the Class V Clavey Falls on the Tuolumne, behind schedule by two full days due to the are Class V rapids in the main channels, although Mambo is more difficult. Soon portages on Río Huevachic, we paddle the but with easier Class III-IV sneak routes after these rapids, we made our seventh rest of the day, making the 40 miles to the that I run. The river now has about 4000 camp (21 miles into the run), which is town of Chínipas late in the afternoon. cfs of muddy water and feels similar to the where this story began. Colorado’s Westwater Canyon. The lower The Town of Chínipas Chínipas gorge has several hot springs in So, what is the river like downstream it, another two-mile section of great Class of our seventh camp? Class III rapids It is usually a pleasure to arrive in a small IV rapids (El Pilar Section), and then a long continue as the walls of the Gasogachic Mexican town after a wilderness journey section of fun Class III rapids through an Gorge gradually recede, and then we of a week or more, and Chínipas is no amazing canyon. At Arroyo Las Palmitas, come to another Class IV, “Oversight,” exception. Some friendly local people I come upon one more easy Class IV rapid, that appears from a scout at the top to be cheer us—we’re the first boaters they’ve from which I can see the high water mark nothing more than big waves all the way ever seen on their river—and deliver us to of the reservoir. I get to enjoy two more down. I send Tom D down armed with the center of town. We decide to stay the Class III rapids before the real “flatwater” this information, but he hits a hidden night in the hotel, and amble over to the begins, then I paddle the nine miles to the hole, backenders and flips, and then rights restaurant for dinner. We practically clean train stop at Palo Dulce, passing through himself only to get thrashed around in them out with our ravished appetites, a gorge section where the vertical walls another hole. I say to myself, “Oops!!! prompting them to fetch more food. We rise hundreds of feet directly from the Very, very sorry Tomster!!” It does make learn that a bus goes up to the train station lake, only 60 feet apart. They must have for amusing video. He is furious, though, in Témoris in the morning, providing a drowned one amazing section of river here and I apologize profusely. convenient way to end the trip. The other (and only in the late 1990s). guys decide to end the trip short, their main The Piedra Blanca Gorge reasons: (1) being mentally and physically The Copper Canyon Train beaten from the Huevachic portion of the We come to two more big rapids with trip, (2) not digging the Class I-II section One last interesting aspect of this trip boulders in the river of IV+ and V- of river near Chínipas that they believe is the Copper Canyon train that can difficulty. The second has bananas growing may continue on to the end, (3) not facilitate shuttles. This train line is the by it, so I refer to it as “Banana Rapid.” The wanting a potentially lengthy paddle out only one remaining in Mexico that line requires starting on the right side on the reservoir to the train stop at Palo continues to operate passenger service. of the river and running a drop aiming Dulce, and (4) being behind schedule, It goes from Los Mochis to Chihuahua, toward the center, and then riding down they want to be sure they can make it to crossing Río Chínipas by its junction with the center main channel in a rushing their reserved flights back to the US. The Río Septentrion under the backwaters of flume of water. The danger is if you don’t next morning, I try to get them situated on Presa Huites. Up higher, the train runs make it to the center channel, a sieve on the bus with their boats, but to no avail – between Ríos Oteros and Urique, stopping the right side could be problematic. I run there’s not enough room. Fortunately, we by the lookout at Divisadero. On this trip, it first without problems, and then Tom M find a guy who will drive them up there in we found out that they recently stopped goes, spinning around in the upper drop his pickup for about twice as much money trailing the cargo car, complicating but gathering himself well and making it as the bus would have cost (still only $50). the shuttle of hard kayaks. However, to the center channel fine. The other guys That is another great thing about traipsing we still managed to get our boats to portage. [We don’t know it at the time, but around in little in rural Mexican towns: our destinations. this is the last Class V of the trip, 25 miles you can usually find someone to help get downstream of the confluences.] you around, even if it takes them out of In conclusion, Río Chínipas does end up their way. Tom M later relates to me that being an incredible Class IV journey all These rapids lead down to another the vistas were spectacular on the sinuous the way down to its terminus on Presa footbridge and gorge section with whitish road that climbs 3500 feet up an over the Huites. True, there are a few Class V rapids, bedrock, so I refer to it as the “Piedra mountains. They eventually get back to but that is typical of many rivers that are Blanca Gorge.” Here we find three miles of Tom’s van in Creel and return to the US considered “Classic” Class IV runs. The fun and squirrelly Class III-IV water. The through El Paso. few Class Vs give perspective to paddlers river then goes through a Class III section, and excitement to experts, but since they a Class II section, and finally a long Class The Lower Chínipas can be portaged, should not present too I section down to Chínipas. Aaron takes much of a hassle for advanced boaters off his helmet and jacket and laments not I launch solo on the remaining 41 miles looking for a fun trip that is not scary. having a faster boat for the “flatwater.” In of the Lower Chínipas.” The townspeople my mind, the “flatwater” will really start warn me that there are some big “saltos” or For additional information (more photos, video, and a drops/jumps/falls in the river downstream. soon-to-be-printed guidebook), see www.sierrarios.org
42 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 Josh Anderson below Tarnation Rapid
Photo by Daniel Anderson Class V Sponsor Class II Sponsor
In 2006, Keen’s contributions will aid American Whitewater’s projects in the Southeast, and the Pacific Northwest. In the Southeast Keen’s support will help American Whitewater’s work restoring the Catawba watershed. Additional funding from Keen will support AW’s projects on the Columbia River Basin and the Cascade range in the Pacific Northwest.
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44 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 Each day American Whitewater faces new In 1971 Graham Mackereth started building To have fun on the water you need clean challenges that threaten fiberglass slalom kayaks in his family’s rivers to paddle and access to whitewater our whitewater rivers. To garage. From this small start, Pyranha has runs. This is why Pyranha is proud to grown to be a leader in whitewater kayaks partner with American Whitewater. aid us in this fight, we rely worldwide. Today, Pyranha remains a AW’s mission of river stewardship, access small company of enthusiasts dedicated to advocacy and safety outreach is a vital on support from members, bringing you the best whitewater kayaks part of our continued ability to enjoy donors, foundations, and on the market. whitewater paddling. Thanks to AW for helping to preserve whitewater rivers partners in the industry. Every Pyranha kayak is a team effort. for everyone. Companies throughout the We’ve built a global team of paddlers and dealers whose feedback helps shape our whitewater and outdoor boats. We’ve supported numerous world industries are stepping class expeditions. We’ve researched, tested, prototyped and developed our boats year forward to support AW’s after year to make sure that you get the River Stewardship work. most out of your day on the river. Our bottom line is the same as your bottom American Whitewater urges line--having fun on the water. you not to make purchase decisions blindly. When you buy your next piece of outdoor gear there are many factors to consider: quality, dependability, comfort, safety, and fashion. American Whitewater hopes you will add one more consideration to this list: corporate responsibility. Support companies that support your rivers
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Membership support is what will determine our ability to continue our river stewardship work in the years to come. Individual Annual Memberships are only $35. If you are a member of your local paddling club and your club is an Affiliate Club member of AW, join as a Club Affiliate Individual for $25. This is less than a tank of gas or an inexpensive night out. This is certainly not too much to pay to have a national organization representing your paddling interests all across the country.
46 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 47 January/February 2010 It’s Easy to Support AW! American Whitewater would like to recognize the Greater Baltimore Canoe American Whitewater is proud of the work we have accomplished in our stewardship Club located in Baltimore, Maryland as an program but we need your help to sustain our success. Your support through outstanding Affiliate Club and long time membership and donations enables our staff to be active and engaged in the process supporter of our mission to conserve and of river stewardship. Donations don’t have to be large; each person doing a small part restore America’s whitewater resources makes a noticeable difference. Many donors fail to take full advantage of federal tax and to enhance opportunities to enjoy incentives specifically intended to encourage charitable contributions. Such incentives them safely. The Greater Baltimore Canoe often enable a donor to make a larger gift to AW at little or no additional cost. For Club consists of members of all skill more information about maximizing your gift visit the IRS website dedicated to levels, from novices through advanced charitable organizations. paddlers with a diverse range of interests including canoe camping, sea kayaking, American Whitewater is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, EIN# scenic and relaxing easy moving water, fun 23-7083760. To learn more about the Giving Options below, contact us at intermediate whitewater, and advanced 866-BOAT4AW or visit the “Donate” link under “Support AW” on our website at adrenaline rushes. www.americanwhitewater.org.
The GBCC offers beginner kayak and canoe • Donate online today! classes to members. Both classes are an excellent introduction to flat or whitewater • Monthly Giving: Contribute a minimum of $10 via credit card or electronic transfer paddling and provide participants with the from your bank account. basic strokes and how to control their boat on flat water. These skills are then applied • Bequests: Include AW in your will or living trust. Bequests to AW are generally exempt when learning the techniques for moving from federal or state inheritance taxes, and subject to an unlimited deduction. water. The classes are a lot of fun and a great way to try out the sport. The advanced • Combined Federal Campaign: Federal employees including federal civilians, whitewater class is for intermediate skilled military personnel and U.S. Postal Workers can donate to AW through the CFC a people looking to try harder rivers with once a year charitable fund raising program. Look for AW (Agency #11351) in the the guidance of experienced paddlers. An official CFC listing of eligible donors. additional safety class provides knowledge that everyone can use. • Charitable Remainder Trusts: Convert a highly appreciated asset (such as real estate or stocks) into a lifetime income while minimizing income and estate taxes. Membership in the GBCC provides the opportunity to meet many paddlers • Employer Matching: Many employers will match your donations to non-profit and to participate in coordinated trips organizations. This includes membership payments, as well as additional contributions. throughout the year. Many of the trips are Check to see if your employer has a matching program. in the Greater Baltimore area, as well as frequent trips in Maryland, Pennsylvania, • MissionFish: Sell your items through the MissionFish program on eBay and the Virginia, and West Virginia. The club holds meetings every other month and proceeds come directly to AW. the meetings feature interesting speakers relevant to paddling. • Other Assets: A gift of real estate to AW qualifies you for a tax deduction based on the property’s fair market value. If it is not a river access point, AW will sell the property Every year the GBCC runs a river clean- and use the proceeds to protect access and restore rivers. Acceptance of property is up to improve our local resources and we subject to certain conditions. You may also be eligible to receive tax benefits for gifts donate money each year to several local of real property. Art and jewelry are examples of personal property items that may be environmental groups. The organizations eligible. Interested donors should check with your financial and tax advisors and AW are chosen for their specific interest in on the feasibility and tax considerations of such gifts. boating and rivers. • Securities: Donating appreciated stock to AW benefits both the donor and whitewater Yearly dues are an affordable $20. To learn rivers. The donor receives two tax-related benefits. First, the gain on the stock is not more about the Greater Baltimore Canoe subject to capital gains taxes. Second, the donor can deduct the value of the stock as Club or to join, check out their website a charitable contribution. at http://www.baltimorecanoeclub.org/. And remember, current members of the • United Way: All federal campaigns, and a few of the local campaigns will allow you GBCC receive a $10 discount off their AW to donate to AW. AW’s UNITED WAY member # is 2302. membership. • Vehicle Donations: Turn that extra car, truck, or RV into a tax deductible donation Thanks GBCC for your continued support benefiting AW. of American Whitewater!
48 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 A Southern Creekin’ short paddle to the take-out at Stackhouse. We woke refreshed on Sunday and headed After checking the gauges, we decided to toward the Wilson Creek Gorge, where we Road Trip head north to Tennessee to the Doe River were elated to find the level at just above Gorge. Another first descent for Brandon, -3 inches (a good minimum level). It was By Mikel Carr Dan, and I, and a second descent for Jason. another first descent for Dan (Wow, what Since we weren’t too familiar with the run, a weekend). We put on Wilson before 9 This story started with the intention of we enlisted Damascus/Abingdon locals am for our first lap on this wonderful SE helping our good buddy Brandon prepare Brian Picket, his wife Natalie, Michael classic. I must say that this is probably one for an upcoming trip down the Colorado Bianchi and Eric Hoffman to join us. With of my favorite runs anywhere. We pumped River through the great Grand Cannon. the sun shinning and the temperature rising out three laps on the Class IV/V Wilson, The plan was to make a three-day voyage to an uncommonly beautiful November enjoying numerous no-named ledge on the New River with the climactic third morning, we put on this incredibly drops. And, of course, the classics: 10-foot day on the gorge. However, the rains came, beautiful and deep gorge. After a mile or Falls, Triple Drop, Boat Buster, Thunder and as so often happens in the lives of so we came to a mandatory portage and Hole, and finally Razor Back. boaters, plans changed. As the New rose immediately following the portage the to levels in excess of 14 feet we began to good stuff began. We hit some good Class All-in-all, the four amigos enjoyed a question the intelligence of running this III ledges and then came to one of the first phenomenal weekend of whitewater and stretch of river at levels none of had ever named rapids, Toaster Slot. After Toaster general camaraderie. What started out as seen before and with boats weighted down Slot we came to the quintessential rapid being dubbed Expedition 2009 ended up with 30 lbs or so of gear. of this run, Class IV Body Snatcher. Dan being Southeast Classics Trip 2009. I’m not dropped the second drop of the rapid and sure if Brandon is better prepared for his Instead, the crew gathered early Friday got flipped headed for the namesake hole trip to the Grand than when we started this morning at Brandon’s house to make at the bottom. Dan did, however, pull out weekend, but I am pretty sure he had some plans for Friday, at least. Boats and gear a beautiful single bladed roll just before he fun trying to get ready, and I’m confident loaded, Brandon Dale, Jason Bordwine, dropped over the edge but in the process he already possesses all the knowledge and Dan Pettingill, and I hit the road south somehow his skirt blew out and he went capability necessary for a successful trip. to North Carolina. The four of us decided over with a boat full of water and swam in In reality this whole thing was really just to make our personal first descents of the the pool at the bottom. Everyone else was a good excuse for four whitewater loving Big Laurel Creek, a tributary of the French able to clean the rapid and Dan quickly friends to get together and spend three Broad River. The run began with a couple got his things together and we finished days enjoying the passion we all share. of miles of Class II boogie water and then the Doe without incident. With the day In the end isn’t that really what it’s all finally peaked with about four quality wrapped up and evening approaching, about anyway? Class III/III+ rapids. Jason, Dan, Brandon, and I bid farewell to Brian, Natalie, Michael, and Eric and After the confluence of the Big Laurel headed back south to North Carolina in and the French Broad we got to finish our search of a place to lay our heads for the run with the last two rapids of the French evening. Shortly after dark we found a nice Broad before setting shuttle for the second campsite down some Forest Service road The Crew on Stairstep Rapid on Big Laurel Creek (NC) float of the day. Since we had planned and again set camp, built a campfire, and for an expedition, we decided to load the broke out the spirits. Photo by Mikel Carr boats with our gear and put on the French Broad, which, by the way, was running a very beefy 10,000 cfs. We paddled a few miles and found a nice island in the middle of the roaring river to make camp for the evening. With camp set and wet clothes replaced with dry, we broke out the wine and spirits and enjoyed a nice warm campfire on an evening where the Milky Way clearly lit the sky. We even saw a few shooting stars while we listened to the roar of the river rush by on all sides.
We woke early on Saturday, broke camp, and set out into the low-lying fog for the www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 49 January/February 2010 The Affiliate Club Program lies at the very heart Alaska Mason Dixon Canoe Cruisers, Smithsburg of AW’s existence. AW’s original purpose since Fairbanks Paddlers, Fairbanks 1954 has been to distribute information among Nova Riverrunners Inc., Chickaloon Michigan its Affiliate Clubs. AW’s relationships with local Club Sport: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor clubs have provided the backbone for the river Alabama conservation and access work it accomplishes. Birmingham Canoe Club, Birmingham Minnesota Huntsville Canoe Club, Huntsville SCSU Outdoor Endeavors, Saint Cloud Over 116 clubs are now AW Club Affiliates and Minnesota Canoe Asso, Minneapolis they are all doing great work on your behalf. If Arkansas you don’t belong to a club, consider joining one. Arkansas Canoe Club, Little Rock Mississippi Mississippi Outdoor Club, Clinton A few months ago American Whitewater proudly California announced the Affiliate Club recipients of the Chico Paddleheads, Chico Missouri 7th Annual Clif Bar Flowing Rivers Campaign. Gold Country Paddlers, Lotus Ozark Mountain Paddlers, Springfield Winners were Jackson Hole Kayak Club of Sequoia Paddling Club, Forestville Ozark Wilderness Waterways, Kansis City Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Genesse Waterways Sierra Club Loma Prieta, San Jose Center of Rochester, New York with each club Sierra Club SF Chapter, Livermore Montana Beartooth Paddlers Society, Billings receiving a $1,250 grant to go towards their Colorado respective projects. Avid4 Adventure Inc., Boulder Nevada Colorado Whitewater Assn, Englewood Sierra Nevada Whitewater Club, Reno The Jackson Hole Kayak Club’s proposal was to Grand Canyon Priv. Boat. Assn., Colorado Springs install a set of stairs to access a section of the Pikes Peak Whitewater Club, Colorado Springs New Hampshire Snake River near the Kings Wave Rapid. This San Miguel Whitewater Asso, Telluride Mt. Washington Valley Paddlers, Intervale section of river has some excellent play features University of Colorado Kayak Club, Boulder Merrimack Valley Paddlers, Merrimack and is also a popular Class II/III run for beginner and expert boaters alike. The necessity for these Conneticut New Jersey stairs is brought about by the steep banks in this AMC - Connecticut Chapter, Colchester KCCNY, Flanders area (1200 feet per mile gradient) that make river access there very difficult. They’ve already Delaware New Mexico completed the first section of these stairs at a cost Wilmington Trail Club Paddlers. Wilmington Adobe Whitewater Club, Albuquerque of approximately $8,000. Georgia New York Atlanta Whitewater Club, Atlanta ADK Schenectady, Schenectady Genesee Waterways Center’s proposal was based Georgia Canoeing Assoc, Atlanta AMC NY-NJ Chapter, New York around rehabilitating an existing low-head dam Paddlers4Christ, Ellijay Colgate University, Hamilton feature into a potentially usable whitewater feature Genesee Waterways Center Inc., Rochester and improving the surrounding area for multiple Iowa Flow Paddlers’ Club, Ontario types of users. Their goal was to “Eliminate Iowa Whitewater Coalition, W Des Moines Hamilton College, Clinton a hazard that exists in an area with a lot of Housatonic Canoe & Kayak Squad, Ossining recreational boating use, including an upstream Idaho St Lawrence University, Canton whitewater park, a downstream rowing facility, Idaho Whitewater Assoc., Boise Town Tinker Tube Rentals, Phoenicia USA Paddling, West Falls an increasingly used canal park that attracts many Illnois hikers, bikers and other users and a very popular Zoar Valley Paddling Club, Buffalo Chicago Whitewater Assoc., Chicago fishing spot.” Team SICK, Carbondale N. Carolina Base Camp Cullowhee, Cullowhee Several other clubs submitted some great Indiana Carolina Canoe Club, Raleigh proposals; however, we could only pick two. Some Hoosier Canoe Club, Indianapolis Mecklenburg Regional Paddlers, Charlotte other proposals included Bluegrass Wildwater Ohio Valley Paddlers, Evansville NCSU Outing Club, Raleigh Association’s proposal for a cleanup this fall on the Triad River Runners, Winston, Salem Southeast classic Russell Fork River; Tennessee Kentucky Watauga Paddlers, Boone Scenic River Association’s proposal for a river Bardstown Boaters, Frankfort cleanup on the Bledsoe Creek in Tennessee; Bluegrass Wildwater Association, Lexington Ohio and Tennessee Valley Canoe Club’s proposal to Elkhorn Paddlers, Lexington Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, Columbus improve access to Rock Creek in Georgia. Viking Canoe Club, Louisville Keel Haulers Canoe Club, Westlake Outdoor Adventure Club, Dayton Maine Toledo River Gang, Waterville Thanks again to all of the clubs who participated Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society, Topsham in last year’s grant process. Most of all, a huge Oregon thank you goes out to Clif Bar for sponsoring this Massachusetts Eugene Kayaker, Eugene wonderful opportunity for our Affiliate Clubs to AMC - New Hampshire Paddlers, Hanover Face Level Industries LLC, Portland try and do their part in saving our rivers! Lower Columbia Canoe Club, Portland Maryland Northwest Rafters Assoc, Portland The AW Journal Club Affiliates by state: Greater Baltimore Canoe Club, Cockeysville Oregon Canoe and Kayak, Portland Oregon Whitewater Association, Beaverton
50 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010 Join American Whitewater as a Club Affiliate!
Willamette Kayak & Canoe Club, Corvallis 10 Reasons to Join AW
Pennsylvania Discounted AW as an Affiliate Club AMC Delaware Valley Chapter, Sugarloaf Blue Mountain Outfitters, Marysville Membership for Bradford County Canoe and Kayak Club, Sayre Canoe Club of Greater Harrisburg, Harrisburg Affiliate Club Conewago Canoe Club, York Members 1. Receive the American Holtwood Hooligans, Lancaster Whitewater Journal, the Lehigh Valley Canoe Club, Lehigh Valley Lehigh Valley Whitewater Inc., Lehigh Valley By Carla Miner, Membership Manager oldest continually published Philadelphia Canoe Club, Philadelphia whitewater magazine. Three Rivers Paddling Club, Pittsburgh AW offers a discounted Affiliate S. Carolina Club membership of $25, a $10 2. Join the list of Affiliate Clubs Foothills Paddling Club, Greenville savings. If you are renewing noted in each bi-monthly Palmetto Paddlers, Columbia your AW membership or AW Journal. Tennessee joining as a new member, select Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts, Kingsport the Affiliate Club Discounted 3. List club events in the AW Journal. Chota Canoe Club, Knoxville Personal Membership online East Tennessee Whitewater Club, Oak Ridge Memphis Whitewater, Memphis at http://americanwhitewater. 4. Your Club’s members can Tennessee Scenic River Assoc., Nashville org/content/Membership/join- become AW members for $25. Tennessee Valley Canoe Club, Chattanooga AW/. Or, if you are renewing A $10 savings! University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing, Kingsport or joining by mail or telephone just mention the name of the 5. Have technical expertise for Texas Affiliate Club you belong to and your Club conservation and Houston Canoe Club, Houston you can take advantage of the $25 access committees ‘on tap.’ Utah membership. Utah Whitewater Club, Salt Lake City 6. Have access to technical and A list of AW Affiliate Clubs can Vermont onsite assistance for your Club’s Vermont Paddlers Club, Essex Junction be found on our website at http:// event planning. americanwhitewater.org/content/ Virginia Membership/join-AW/. If you Blue Ridge River Runners, Lynch Station 7. Enjoy VIP benefits for “Joint Canoe Cruisers Assn, Arlington do not see your Club listed here Members” at AW events. Coastal Canoeists, Blacksburg please encourage them to renew Float Fishermen of Virginia, Richmond their Club membership or to join 8. Participate in exclusive AW FORVA, Roanoke Hollins Outdoor Program, Roanoke AW as a new Affiliate Club. Your Affiliate Club promotions. James River Float Co, Madison Heights Club’s membership and your Paddlers for Conservation, Vienna personal membership enable our 9. Post Club information on the Washington staff to be active and engaged in AW Website to help paddlers BEWET, Bellevue the process of river stewardship. find you. Paddle Trails Canoe Clube, Seattle When you join or renew your Spokane Canoe & Kayak Club, Spokane membership your support The Mountaineers, Seattle 10. Elligible to apply for the 2009 University Kayak Club, Seattle is helping to meet the many Clif Bar Flowing Rivers grant Venturing Crew 360, Snohomish challenges whitewater rivers face. Washington Kayak Club, Seattle Washington Recreational River Runners, Renton Whitman College Whiteater Club, Walla Walla If you have any questions about the Affiliate Club membership, For more information, West Virginia please contact me. I can be contact Carla Miner at West VA Wildwater Association, S. Charleston reached at 866_BOAT-4AW [email protected] Wisconsin or membership@ or sign-up on-line at: Hoofers Outing Club, Madison americanwhitewater.org. www.americanwhitewater.org/membership Sierra Club / John Muir Chapter, Madison
www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater 51 January/February 2010 Please read this carefully before sending us Those without access to a word proces- American Whitewater feature articles should your articles and photos! This is a volunteer sor may submit their articles typed. Please relate to some aspect of whitewater boating. publication, please cooperate and help us double space. Please do not submit articles pertaining to out. Do not send us your material without sea kayaking or flat water. a release – signed by all authors and pho- Photos may be submitted as slides, black or tographers (attached). white prints, or color prints or electronic, digital If you are writing about a commonly paddled photos, 300 dpi tiffs, Photoshop or high res jpegs river, your story should be told from a ,If possible, articles should be submitted on a minimum 3”x5.” Keep your originals and send unique perspective. Articles about diffcult 3-1/2-inch computer disk. (Microsoft Word us duplicates if possible; we cannot guarantee infrequently paddled, or exotic rivers are if possible – others accepted.) Please do not the safe return of your pictures. If you want us given special consideration. But we are also alter the margins or spacing parameters; use to return your pictures, include a self-addressed interested in well written, unusual articles the standard default settings. Send a printed stamped envelope with your submission. The pertaining to Class II, III & IV rivers as well. copy of the article as well. better the photos the better the reproduction. Feature stories do not have to be about a spe- cific river. Articles about paddling techniques, the river environment and river personalities are also accepted. Pieces that incorporate humor are especially welcome. Open boating and rafting stories are welcome. Profanity should be used only when it is ab- solutely necessary to effectively tell a story; it is not our intent to offend our more sensitive members and readers. Please check all facts carefully, particularly those regarding individuals, government agencies, and corporations involved in river access and environmental matters. You are legally responsible for the accuracy of such material. Make sure names are spelled cor- rectly and river gradients and distances are correctly calculated. Articles will be edited at the discretion of the editors to fit our format, length, and style. Expect to see changes in your article. If you don’t want us to edit your article, please don’t send it in! Because of our deadlines you will not be able to review the editorial changes made prior to publication. American Whitewater is a nonprofit; the edi- tors and contributors to American Whitewa- ter are not reimbursed. On rare occasions, by prearrangement, professional writers receive a small honorarium when they submit stories at our request. Generally, our contributors do not expect payment, since most are members of AW, which is a volunteer conservation and safety organization.
Send your material to: Journal Editor P.O. Box 1540 Cullowhee, NC 28723 E-mail: [email protected]
52 American Whitewater www.americanwhitewater.org January/February 2010